With news of the International Olympic Committee voting to retain wrestling for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, many of the top names in wrestling in the United States have voiced their reaction to the decision. 

Moments after the decision in Buenos Aires, Argentina, many USA Wrestling and FILA delegates were able to give some insight into the IOC General Assembly’s decision and their experience in Buenos Aires.

Video interviews from Buenos Aires include USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender, USA Wrestling President Jim Ravannack, Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling Chair Bill Scherr, CPOW and FILA Bureau Member Jim Scherr, FILA Vice President Stan Dziedzic and Actor/CPOW Member Billy Baldwin. 

In addition, the U.S. men’s freestyle team received the news while training for the World Championships in Minsk, Belarus. Several of the coaches and wrestlers in Belarus were able to give immediate reactions to the IOC vote.

Video interviews from Belarus include U.S. National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones, U.S. assistant freestyle coaches Tom Brands, Lou Rosselli and Brandon Slay, and U.S. World Team member Reece Humphrey. 

Additional IOC vote reaction interviews from the USA Wrestling watch party are available for viewing, including interviews with U.S. Women’s National Coach Terry Steiner, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Clarissa Chun, 2012 World Champion Adeline Gray, 2012 World silver medalist Helen Maroulis, USA Wrestling Associate Executive Director Les Gutches, freestyle Olympic hopeful Chase Pami and Greco-Roman Olympic hopeful Nikko Triggas.  

All interviews can be viewed on the USA Wrestling YouTube channel under the Keep Olympic Wrestling video playlist.