The winner of the largest international competitions in Greco-Roman wrestling, Islam Magomedov, is considered one of the most interesting and prominent representatives in his sport. On his account, medals of world championships, victories in national championships, as well as a gold medal of the first European Games in history.
Star of the Big Martynovka
Islam Magomedov, a member of the Russian Greco-Roman wrestling team, whose nationality is Dargin, was born away from his historical homeland. Dagestan parents left the republic and settled on the hospitable banks of the Don in the Rostov region. However, the passion for martial arts was apparently in the blood of Islam Magomedov. Greco-Roman wrestling for him was the number one sport from early childhood.
The boy’s favorite fighter was Islam Duguchiev. He admired his technique, refined techniques and then did not even dream that he would subsequently become his coach. Islam Magomedov came to the sports section on Greco-Roman wrestling at the age of 12 years. The first coach of the boy was Boris Pavlovich Khan, who noted that the guy had a real natural gift for wrestling. Three years later, he begins to shine in youth tournaments and makes his way to the national team.
First victories
Islam Magomedov won his first gold medal at the Junior Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championship in 2010 at a tournament in Budapest. A year later, he repeated his achievement in Bucharest, defeating the Georgian wrestler Sandro Dihamini in a tense final match. The transition to an adult level was quite difficult for the young ambitious Magomedov. Accustomed to winning juniors, he met with a completely different level of resistance from seasoned adult wrestlers.
However, for any other young athlete, the start of a big career could certainly be considered successful. In 2012, he won bronze in the Grand Prix finals in Baku, regularly remained in prizes at Russian championships. Nevertheless, Islam Magomedov longed for victories and spent days and nights in the halls to reach a new level in his development.
Breakthrough
In 2015, a native of Bolshoi Martynovka won the Russian championship for the first time in his life. He very emotionally met this event, expressing satisfaction that he had finally met the expectations of his loved ones. It was especially worth noting his victory on the way to the first gold over Magomed Kantemir and Rustam Totrov. In the first case, Islam emerged victorious from a very tough and stubborn confrontation in which the Dargin had to leave all his strength and emotions on the carpet. With Totrov, the tactical skill of Magomedov was manifested. With the composure of a real chess grandmaster, he accurately embodied the scrum plan developed before the start of the match on the carpet and confidently outplayed his opponent.
The victory in the national championship allowed Islam to take part in the largest international tournament, representing Russia. In 2015, the first European Games became such a tournament, the program of which included Greco-Roman wrestling competitions. Islam Magomedov performed well and won gold, becoming in the appendage and the champion of the continent. At his first World Cup, he also fought decently and left Las Vegas with a bronze medal.
Islam Magomedov: Greco-Roman wrestling and the Olympics
In 2016, the Rostov athlete won the Russian championship for the second time in a row, thus earning a ticket to the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio. However, the battle for gold turned out to be incredibly difficult and tough. In the final of the national championship, Islam met with the champion of the country in 2014, Musa Yevloyev. He fought on the verge of a foul and at some point broke his finger on the opponent’s hand. However, Magomedov showed character and brought the meeting to victory.
At the Olympics, Islam was considered one of the favorites and went to the tournament in great shape. However, already in the quarter-finals he had to meet with the strongest Turkish wrestler Chenk Ildem. It was a battle of two titans in which none of them had an advantage. The match ended with the score 1: 1. However, according to the rule of priority of the last action, Ildem defeated. Islam is not yet thirty years old, it is fast, strong and ready for new victories, which will undoubtedly come to him.