United States Olympic trials (wrestling) explained

United States Olympic team trials
Status:active
Genre:sports event
Date:April–June
Frequency:quadrennial
Location:various
Country:United States
Years Active:1984–present
Organised:USA Wrestling

The United States Olympic team trials for the sport of wrestling are contested quadrennially to determine the country's representative at the Summer Olympic Games on each style (men's and women's freestyle and Greco-Roman) and weight class.[1] The event is conducted by the national governing body of the sport, currently USA Wrestling.[2]

Standards

To represent the United States at the Summer Olympic Games, an American wrestler must qualify nationally by winning the US Olympic team trials tournament, and internationally, by either placing fifth or higher at the previous year's World Championships or by becoming a finalist at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier or at a World Olympic Qualifier.[3] The athlete who qualifies their weight class for the Summer Olympics is not guaranteed of a spot in the team, as he must qualify nationally.[4] In case of an athlete qualifying nationally but failing to qualify the weight class internationally, the United States will not be represented at the Games.[5]

History

The first edition of the US Olympic team trials for wrestling took place from June 16 to 23 of 1984, when USA Wrestling dictated they would no longer select the wrestlers they sent to the Summer Olympic Games or the World Championships, as they would now hold an event where qualifying would now be on the hands of the athletes.[6] Bob Dellinger, tournament operations director for the organization, expressed:

Editions

YearLocationVenueDates
2024State College, PennsylvaniaBryce Jordan CenterApril 19-20, 2024[7]
2020Fort Worth, TexasDickies ArenaApril 2–3, 2021[8]
2016Iowa City, IowaCarver-Hawkeye ArenaApril 8–10, 2016[9]
2012Iowa City, IowaCarver-Hawkeye ArenaApril 21–22, 2012
2008Las Vegas, NevadaThomas & Mack CenterJune 14–16, 2008
2004Indianapolis, IndianaRCA DomeMay 21–23, 2004
2000Dallas, TexasReunion ArenaJune 22–24, 2000
1996Spokane, WashingtonSpokane ArenaJune 7–9, 1996
1992Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaJune 6, 1992
1988Pensacola, FloridaJune 17, 1988
1984Allendale, MichiganJune 16–23, 1984

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Top things to know about the U.S. Wrestling Olympic trials 2021. 2021-08-17. Olympics.com.
  2. Web site: Our Mission, Vision & Values. https://web.archive.org/web/20160117010119/http://www.teamusa.org/usa-wrestling/about-us/our-mission. January 17, 2016. dead. teamusa.org.
  3. Web site: 2014-07-01 . INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATED WRESTLING STYLES . https://web.archive.org/web/20140701131207/http://corporate.olympics.com.au/files/dmfile/Rio2016QualificationSystem-Wrestling.pdf . 2014-07-01 . 2021-08-17.
  4. Web site: US Olympic wrestling trials 2020: Preview. 2021-01-20. Olympic Channel.
  5. Web site: Gallo. Ed. 2020-03-28. Pan-American Olympic qualifier: Wrestling breakdown - Retherford pinned, Tobier shines. 2021-08-17. Bloody Elbow. en.
  6. Web site: 1984-02-05. U.S. Team To Be Chosen on the Mat. 2021-08-17. Oklahoman.com. en-US.
  7. Web site: U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling Bryce Jordan Center . 2024-06-30 . bjc.psu.edu.
  8. Web site: Miller . Zach . Wrestling: Men's freestyle seeds announced for U.S. Olympic Trials . 2024-06-30 . North Jersey Media Group . en-US.
  9. Web site: Guillotine . The . 2016-04-07 . 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials . 2024-06-30 . The Guillotine . en-US.