“He is a worthy boy. He became a world champion in a non-Olympic category. And when he entered the other category, he was unable to get anywhere. Moreover, his age was already borderline. And he wanted to try,” said the president of the Russian Freestyle Wrestling Federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili .
“And we agreed. It was all for the national team. He gave everything that was asked of him. He had the right to this chance. I congratulate him with all my heart!”, he adds.
“Those who know wrestling bet 100 to 1 on the great Iranian wrestler Hasan Yazdani. But Magomed showed true spirit,” concludes Mimiashvili.
However, the Russian boss has apparently forgotten that Magomed endured 2 years off the mat so that a transfer would not be paid to his federation. And his papers were settled just before the last Olympic qualification.