Analysis of the Olympic Games

Beijing 2008 Greco-Roman Wrestling

FILA Competence Centre Prof. Dr. Harold Tünnemann

FILA Coaches Clinic Novembre 2008 HennefAnalysis of the Olympic Games Beijing and

the Olympic cycle 2004 - 2008

Greco-Roman WrestlingContents0 Preliminary remarks1. International tendencies of the development of performance

in wrestling

2. Analysis of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games2.1. State of performance and development of Greco-Roman

wrestling2.1.1 Country-specific aspects2.1.2 Qualitative analysis of combat behaviour2.1.2.1 Combat behaviour of the nations 2.1.2. 2 Combat behaviour of the winner

3. Technical-tactical Highlights on a basis of video clips

0 Preliminary remarks

It has already become a good tradition to analyse the top event of the year on the occasion of the international coaches clinic and to draw conclusions for the next period of training. In this process the Olympic Games play an outstanding role and they have an extraordinary importance in the lives of greco-roman athletes. However, this does not only apply to the actors on the mats, but also to coaches, referees, officials, and spectators. The results of the Olympic Games reflect the work completed during one Olympic cycle, and an elaborate analysis furnishes the material for the training-methodical work during the next Olympic cycle.

In the following performance and development of performance in female wrestling shall be outlined, and attention shall be directed on progresses and deficiencies. In order to support in-depth analyses by coaches and athletes we place at your disposal videos with the best technical actions at the Olympic Games, a new edition of the DVD-ROM “Fascination Wrestling-special Olympic Edition” with the updated database and individual video sequences of the Olympic Games 1988 until 2008 as well as a DVD with highlights of the Beijing Olympic Games.

1. International tendencies of the development of performance in wrestling

As Mr. Jacques Rogge, the president of the IOC, closed the Olympic Games in Beijing with the words “These were truly exceptional Games!” the whole wrestling family could also be full of praise for the perfect organisation of the Chinese hosts. The Chinese responsible persons for our sport, the spectators and the nice volunteers especially made the Olympic Games to an unforgettable event for us. So we can support with all one's heart Mr. Rogge’s conclusion: “Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world.”

Athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees came to these dazzling venues and particularly the athletes from Great Britain made great increases in efficiency (chart 1).

In Wrestling 60 countries took part in the Olympic Summer Games and the 71 medals have been won by 28 countries. The most three successful countries in Wrestling have been in Beijing Russia, Japan and Georgia while Georgia made the biggest leap since Athens (chart 2).

The Olympic tournament in Greco-Roman Wrestling has been dominated by the Russian athletes. But also congratulations to the athletes and coaches of France and China who placed second and third within the FILA-Nation point standings (chart 3).

2. Analysis of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

2.1. State of performance and development of Greco-Roman Wrestling

After the Olympic Games in Athens and after the rule changes 2005 we have a clear increase of the points per minute in Greco-Roman Wrestling from 0.9 in Athens to 1.6 in Beijing.

World top performance 1976 - 2008

Winner in Greco - Roman

FILA Competence Centre

OG 76 OG 80 OG 84 OG 88 OG 92 OG 96 OG 00 OG 04 OG 08

0

0,5

1

1,5

2WQ (Pts./min)

GRGR 0,9 0,8 1,6 1,1 1,5 1,1 1,1 0,9 1,6

change rules change rules

We have also an increase of points per bout since the rule changing 2005 from 5.9 points in Athens to 8.4 points per bout in Beijing. If we are looking at the quality of points it has to consider an amount from 42% of clinch points, a clear increase of 1 point actions and a decrease of 2-points and 3-points action.

Quality of Points (all participants) Olympic Games 1992 - 2008 GR

549852 533

464

747780

834 610

227

197

780660 414

9546130 85 95 5 9

Barcelona 1992 Atlanta 1996 Sydney 2000 Athens 2004 Beijing 20080%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%Pts.

1 Pt.

2 Pts.

3 Pts.

5 Pts.

bt.: 351 Pts.:2239 bt.: 382 Pts.:2431 bt.: 245 Pts.:1652 bt.:220 Pts.: 1228 bt.:164 Pts.:1381 (clinch42%)

Pts./bt.: 6,4 Pts./ bt.: 6,4 Pts./bt.: 6,7 Pts./bt.: 5,9 Pts./bt.: 8,4

2. 1. 1. Country-specific aspects

We mentioned already the outstanding results of the Russian

Greco-Roman wrestlers. Congratulation to the athletes and coaches to this outstanding result!! In this connection we would like to congratulate also the French athletes and coaches to their great success in Beijing placed second in the Nation standings.

96 kg RUS - LTU

74 kg FRA - HUN

A group of high-performance countries like China, Cuba and Kazakhstan followed the Russian and French athletes with a distance.

60 kg CHN - BUL

120 kg ARM - CUB

74 kg KAZ - AUS

Azerbaidshan, Hungary, Armenia, Bulgaria and Kirgistan placed themselves under the 10 best nations during the Olympic tournament in Beijing.

The best 10 Nations GR

OG 2008

RUS FRA CHN CUB KAZ AZE HUN ARM BUL KGZ0

10

20

30

40

50Pts.

OG 2008 49 30 26 25 25 22 21 21 18 17

Nat.Pts sorted by FILA ranking (place 1-10 Pts.;place 10-1 Pt)

This leads us to a comparison of the nations’ performance from Athens and Beijing.

The best 10 Nations GR

Comparison OG 2008 and OG 2004

RUS FRA CHN CUB KAZ AZE HUN ARM BUL KGZ0

10

20

30

40

50

OG 2008 49 30 26 25 25 22 21 21 18 17

OG 2004 50 32 27 10 15 11 14

Nat.Pts sorted by FILA ranking (place 1-10 Pts.;place 10-1 Pt)

A look to the nations placed 10 to 20 shows an increase of Lithuania, Germany, Italy and Czech Republic, while Turkey, Ukraine, Sweden and Iran could not reached their results from Athens.

The best Nations (places 10 to 20) GR

Comparison OG 2008 and OG 2004

KOR USA BLR LTU GER ITA TUR UKR SWE CZE IRI0

10

20

30

40

50

60

OG 2008 16 15 14 12 11 10 9 8 6 6 6

OG 2004 15 15 8 27 18 15 11

Nat.Pts sorted by FILA ranking (place 1-10 Pts.;place 10-1 Pt)

2.1.2 Qualitative analysis of combat behaviour2.1.2.1 Combat behaviour of the nations With the Performance index you can very good describe the technical-tactical abilities of a given nation or athlete.

RUS ARM AZE GEO IRI HUN KGZ KOR CUB KAZ0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

1,4

[WQ] - [neg. WQ]

ind. 08 1,31 0,47 0,44 0,37 0,35 0,3 0,23 0,21 0,18 0,08

The best Nations GR

performance index OG 2008

FILA-Competence Centre

55 kg ARM - KAZ

55 kg AZE - RUS

74 kg GEO - FRA

The increase and decrease of the Wrestling efficacy since 2004 can be a hint to the quality of the national training concepts. Seen from this point of view the wrestlers from Russia improved their quality of wrestling dramatically from 0.43 up to 1.31.

RUS ARM AZE GEO IRI HUN KGZ KOR CUB KAZ

0

0,5

1

1,5[WQ] - [neg. WQ]

ind. 08 1,31 0,47 0,44 0,37 0,35 0,3 0,23 0,21 0,18 0,08

ind. 04 0,43 0,23 0,1 -0,23 0,12 0,15 -0,15 0,35 0,47 0,14

The best Nations GR

comparison performance index OG 2008 and OG 2004

FILA-Competence Centre

If we take a deeper look into the quality we can see right now the typical indications of strategies in Greco-Roman wrestling.

RUS AZE ARM GEO KGZ CUB CHN IRI KOR HUN0

0,5

1

1,5

2[WQ]

WQ 08 1,7 1,22 1,21 1,17 1,07 1,06 1,04 1,01 1,01 0,97

Attack efficacy of the best nations GR

OG 2008

This underlines the look at the comparison of the attack efficacy 2004 and 2008.

RUS AZE ARM GEO KGZ CUB CHN IRI KOR HUN0

0,5

1

1,5

2[WQ]

WQ 08 1,7 1,22 1,21 1,17 1,07 1,06 1,04 1,01 1,01 0,97

WQ 04 0,63 0,38 0,64 0,56 0,44 0,74 0,32 0,44 0,64 0,47

Attack efficacy of the best nations GR

comparison OG 2008 and OG 2004

Nat.Pts. 08 49 22 21 12 17 25 26 6 16 21

We can find the same tendency if we have a look at the defence abilities.With the exception of Russia we find rather poor values already in the best countries concerning the defence abilities.

RUS IRI HUN ARM AZE GEO KOR KAZ FRA CUB

0

-0,2

-0,4

-0,6

-0,8

-1

[-WQ]

neg. WQ 08 -0,39 -0,66 -0,67 -0,74 -0,78 -0,8 -0,8 -0,85 -0,86 -0,88

OG 2008

Defence efficacy best nations GR

FILA-Competence Centre

The fig. 11 underlines the present strategy in Greco-Roman wrestling. All the best nations of 2008 decreased their “defence values” in comparison to 2004.

RUS IRI HUN ARM AZE GEO KOR KAZ FRA CUB

0

-0,2

-0,4

-0,6

-0,8

-1

[-WQ]

neg. WQ 08 -0,39 -0,66 -0,67 -0,74 -0,78 -0,8 -0,8 -0,85 -0,86 -0,88

neg. WQ 04 -0,2 -0,33 -0,33 -0,41 -0,29 -0,79 -0,29 -0,44 -0,37 -0,27

comparison OG 2008 and OG 2004

Defence efficacy best nations GR

FILA-Competence Centre

Summarizing the Wrestling efficacy of the Greco-Roman wrestlers we consider an outstanding quality of the Russian wrestlers followed with distance by Armenia, Azerbaidshan, Hungary and Kirgistan.

RUS FRA CHN CUB KAZ AZE HUN ARM BUL KGZ0

0,5

1

1,5

2[WQ] a. [-WQ]

WQ 1,7 0,65 1,04 1,06 0,93 1,22 0,97 1,21 0,81 1,07

- WQ 0,39 0,86 1,1 0,88 0,85 0,78 0,67 0,74 1 0,84

OG 2008 GR

Fighting efficacy certain nations

p.index. 1,31 - 0,21 - 0,06 0,18 0,08 0,44 0,30 0,47 -0,19 0,23

60 kg CUB - KGZ

2.1.2.2 Combat behaviour of the winner

We consider a different picture concerning the performance index, which describes the technical-tactical abilities of the winner.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3[WQ] -[neg.WQ]

index 0,96 2,39 0,5 1,87 0,15 2,58 1,43

OG 2008 GR

Performance index winner

FILA-Competence Centre

It is rather difficult to compare the wrestling abilities of the Olympic champions 2004 and 2008 because of the influence of the rule changing 2005.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3[WQ] - [neg WQ]

index 08 0,96 2,39 0,5 1,87 0,15 2,58 1,43

index 04 0,51 0,73 0,32 0,51 0,45 2 0,48

comparison OG 2008 and OG 2004 GR

Performance index winner

FILA-Competence Centre

The attack efficacy of Khushtov, 96kg (RUS), Kvirkhelia, 74kg (GEO) and Albiev, 60kg (RUS) is extraordinary. Only the champions of the 84 and 66kg weight categories can not keep pace with the other Olympic Champions.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3[WQ]

WQ 1,46 2,39 0,91 2,26 0,7 2,58 1,63

OG 2008 GR

Attack efficacy winner

p.index. 0,96 2,39 0,50 1,87 0,15 2,58 1,43

We have the same picture and reasons if we compare the attack efficacy 2004 and 2008 as well as for the nations and the winner.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3[WQ]

WQ 08 1,46 2,39 0,91 2,26 0,7 2,58 1,63

WQ 04 0,7 0,83 0,53 0,8 0,54 2,39 0,55

comparison OG 2008 and OG 2004 GR

Attack efficacy winner

This assessment holds true of Albiev and Khustov if we have a look at the defence abilities of the Olympic Champions in Greco-Roman wrestling.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg

0

-0,2

-0,4

-0,6

-0,8

-1

[neg.WQ]

- WQ -0,5 0 -0,41 -0,39 -0,55 0 -0,2

OG 2008 GR

Defence efficacy winner

p.index. 0,96 2,39 0,50 1,87 0,15 2,58 1,43

The outstanding defence performance of both Olympic Champions in 96kg and 60kg becomes clear if we compare the values 2004 and 2008.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg

0

-0,2

-0,4

-0,6

-0,8

-1

[neg.WQ]

neg.WQ 08 -0,5 0 -0,41 -0,39 -0,55 0 -0,2

neg. WQ 04 -0,19 -0,1 -0,21 -0,29 -0,09 -0,39 -0,06

comparison OG 2008 and OG 2004 GR

Defence efficacy winner

Summarizing the wrestling efficacy, all Greco-Roman Olympic champions have realized excellent performances with Aslanbek Khushstov 96kg (RUS), Islam-Beka Albiev 60kg (RUS) and Manuchar Kvirkhelia 74 kg (GEO) being clearly ahead.

55 kg 60 kg 66 kg 74 kg 84 kg 96 kg 120 kg0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3[WQ] a. [-WQ]

WQ 1,46 2,39 0,91 2,26 0,7 2,58 1,63

- WQ 0,5 0 0,41 0,39 0,55 0 0,2

OG 2008 GR

p.index. 0,96 2,39 0,50 1,87 0,15 2,58 1,43

Fighting efficacy winner

3. Technical-tactical Highlights on a basis of video clips

Of course we moved into centre stage in our analysis the combat behaviour of the best nations and the best athletes. But we could see in Beijing a lot of spectacular technical-tactical actions from athletes of various countries. We want to present in the end some additional technical-tactical actions to underline the development of Greco-roman wrestling.

66 kg KGZ - UKR

55 kg USA - ROU

55 kg USA - KOR

60 kg CHN - KAZ

74 kg DEN - RUS

96 kg USA - CHN

96 kg CZE - RUS

74 kg RUS - AZE

66 kg USA - KGZ

84 kg JPN - ARM

84 kg USA - POL