Wrestling is one of the oldest and most prestigious sports in the history of the Olympic Games.
It has been contested since the ancient Olympics in 708 BC and has produced some of the most legendary athletes of all time.
Wrestling is a sport that requires strength, skill, technique, endurance, and mental toughness.
It showcases the strength, skill, and determination of the athletes who compete in various weight classes and styles.
Among the thousands of wrestlers who have participated in the Olympics, some have stood out as the best of the best, earning multiple medals, dominating their opponents, and inspiring generations of fans.
To know who were legends in the sport, we will analyze and rank great Olympic wrestlers, based on their achievements, records, and impact on the sport.
To determine the greatest wrestlers, we’ll delve into both Olympic styles: freestyle and Greco-Roman.
We’ll consider medal count, competition level, achievements, records, impact on the sport, and career longevity.
It’s a tough call with so many deserving wrestlers, but we strive for objectivity and fairness.
Here are the top 10 best Olympic wrestlers of all time:
10. Jordan Burroughs (United States)
Jordan Burroughs is one of the most dominant and charismatic wrestlers of the modern era.
He is a four-time world champion and a two-time Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling.
Burroughs secured the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the 74 kg category and successfully defended his title at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the same weight class.
His remarkable career record of 189 wins and 10 losses includes a stunning 69 consecutive victories from 2011 to 2014. Burroughs is celebrated for his explosive power, speed, and technique, particularly his signature move, the “blast double,” a type of double-leg takedown.
His prowess and dominance have earned him a reputation as one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers globally and one of the greatest American wrestlers of all time.
9. Kaori Icho (Japan)
Kaori Icho is the most decorated female wrestler in history and the only woman to win four consecutive Olympic gold medals in any individual sport.
Icho won her first gold medal in the 63 kg category at the 2004 Athens Olympics and repeated this feat at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
She then continued her reign by securing gold at the 2012 London Olympics in the 58 kg category and at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the same weight class.
She is also a 10-time world champion and a six-time Asian champion and has a career record of 189 wins and 2 losses.
Icho’s technical mastery and tactical intelligence have set her apart in professional classic wrestling.
Her remarkable legacy has earned her the title of the best female wrestler of all time and one of the greatest Japanese athletes in history.
8. John Smith (United States)
John Smith is one of the iconic figures in freestyle wrestling who has left an indelible mark on the sport.
His remarkable career includes winning six consecutive world championships from 1987 to 1992 and two Olympic gold medals.
Smith won the gold medal in the 62 kg category at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
He also achieved success at the NCAA level, securing two championship titles.
Known for his innovation, Smith is credited with inventing and popularizing the low single-leg takedown, a technique that is still widely used today.
His career record of 100 wins and 5 losses, including 62 consecutive victories from 1987 to 1992, reflects his exceptional wrestling skill and consistency.
Smith’s influence extends beyond his competitive career, as he has also made significant contributions as a coach, guiding his alma mater to multiple NCAA titles.
7. Ivar Johansson (Sweden)
Ivar Johansson is a pioneer of wrestling and one of the most versatile wrestlers of all time.
He is the only wrestler to have won three Olympic gold medals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
He won the gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics in the 79 kg category, and the gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the same Olympics in the 87 kg category.
He repeated this feat at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, winning the gold medal in the 79 kg category in freestyle wrestling and the 82 kg category in Greco-Roman wrestling.
Johansson was also a four-time world champion and had a career record of 54 wins and 0 losses.
His legacy has earned him a place in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and he remains one of the most celebrated Swedish wrestlers in history.
6. Mijaín López (Cuba)
Mijaín López is the king of Greco-Roman wrestling and one of the most dominant wrestlers of all time.
He has made history by winning four Olympic gold medals, the first male wrestler to do so.
His Olympic victories include the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 120 kg category, the 2012 London Olympics in the same weight class, the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 130 kg category, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 130 kg category.
López is renowned for his immense strength, size, and agility, as well as his signature gut wrench, a technique he uses to lift and turn his opponents.
In addition to his Olympic achievements, López has also secured five World Championship titles and five Pan American Games championships.
With a career record of 226 wins and 16 losses, including 130 consecutive victories from 2007 to 2016, López has solidified his position as the greatest Cuban wrestler of all time and one of the greatest Greco-Roman wrestlers in history.
5. Dan Gable (United States)
Dan Gable is a legend in American wrestling.
He is a two-time world champion and a one-time Olympic champion, having secured the gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics in the 68 kg category without conceding a single point to any of his opponents.
Gable’s exceptional career also includes being a two-time world champion and a three-time NCAA champion.
He is known for his relentless work ethic, intensity, and passion, as well as his exceptional wrestling skills and tactics.
He has a career record of 181 wins and 1 loss and has won 100 consecutive matches from 1967 to 1970.
Beyond his competitive career, Gable became a highly successful coach, leading the University of Iowa to 15 NCAA titles and coaching the United States to seven Olympic medals.
He is widely regarded as the greatest collegiate wrestler of all time and one of the greatest wrestlers in the sport’s history.
4. Saori Yoshida (Japan)
Saori Yoshida is a legend of female wrestling and one of the most dominant wrestlers of all time.
She is a 13-time world champion and a three-time Olympic champion, having secured gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the 2012 London Olympics in the 55 kg category.
She is the second woman to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in any individual sport.
She is also a four-time Asian champion and has a career record of 206 wins and 3 losses, including an impressive 119 consecutive victories from 2001 to 2012.
She was known for her speed, technique, and mental toughness.
Yoshida’s remarkable legacy has earned her numerous accolades, including the People’s Honour Award and the title of Japanese Athlete of the Year.
3. Aleksandr Medved (Soviet Union)
Aleksandr Medved is considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of all time for several reasons.
He is a nine-time world champion and a three-time Olympic champion.
He won the gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in freestyle wrestling in the 97 kg category, the gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in freestyle wrestling in the 90 kg category, and the gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics in freestyle wrestling in the 100 kg category.
He is also the only wrestler to win Olympic gold medals in three different weight classes.
Despite being smaller than many of his opponents, he was able to outmaneuver and defeat stronger wrestlers with his speed, masterful technique, and broad repertoire of holds.
He has a career record of 300 wins and 7 losses and has won 150 consecutive matches from 1963 to 1972.
Throughout his career, he also won seven world and three European titles, further solidifying his reputation as a wrestling legend.
2. Buvaisar Saitiev (Russia)
Buvaisar Saitiev is a legendary freestyle wrestler, widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. \
He has won three Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal, competing in four different weight classes from 1996 to 2008.
Saitiev’s exceptional skill and mastery are evident in his signature ankle pick, which he uses to score points and control his opponents. He has a career record of 230 wins and 10 losses, including an impressive 84 consecutive victories from 1995 to 1999.
Saitiev has won 12 world and Olympic titles, more than any other male freestyle wrestler in history.
His impact on the sport is enduring, and he is celebrated for his elegance, finesse, and sportsmanship.
Saitiev’s remarkable legacy has earned him numerous accolades, including the title of the greatest freestyle wrestler of all time.
1. Aleksandr Karelin (Soviet Union/Russia)
Aleksandr Karelin is widely considered the greatest Olympic wrestler of all time due to his unprecedented success in international competition.
Karelin won gold medals at the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic Games under different flags each time (Soviet Union, Unified Team, and Russia, respectively), and a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games.
He had an impressive 16-year undefeated streak, with a record of 887 wins and two losses, both by a single point.
Karelin’s wrestling versatility was evident in his ability to adapt to different opponents and situations, as well as his use of unconventional training methods and techniques.
He was a well-rounded wrestler who excelled in both offense and defense and rarely gave up a point.
He was named the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of the 20th century by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) and is one of the class of ten inaugural inductees into the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Not just that, he was also awarded the “Golden Belt” as the best wrestler of the planet by FILA four times, in 1989, 1990, 1992, and 1994.
Olympic wrestling is one of the oldest and most prestigious sports in the world, showcasing the best of human strength, skill, and endurance.
Throughout history, many wrestlers have left their mark on the Olympic stage, but some have risen above the rest and earned the title of the greatest of all time.
Here, we have ranked the top 10 Olympic wrestlers based on their achievements, records, and legacy.
We have considered both freestyle and Greco-Roman styles, as well as the number of medals, titles, and matches won.
We have also looked at the impact and influence these wrestlers have had on the sport and the world.
Whether you agree or disagree with our list, we hope you enjoyed reading about these amazing athletes and their inspiring stories.