CATCH & the Olympics

Wrestling for glory: CATCH forms the basis of today's amateur freestyle.

The CATCH style is the basis of what we know today as Olympic Freestyle wrestling.

Freestyle wrestlers, as opposed to Graeco-Roman wrestlers, are permitted to take holds below the waist; a win is secured by pinning your opponent's shoulders to the mat (or on a points system).

Bar holds are not allowed: they are deemed dangerous (and probably too brutal for the amateur sport).

St Louis, (USA) 1904

Freestyle wrestling was first introduced into the modern Olympic games in 1904 when it was hosted by the USA. The US was the only country to participate in the competition, claiming of course all the wrestling medals that year.

London, 1908

It was not until the 1908 Games in London where both Graeco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling were featured.

Since then, Freestyle has overtaken Graeco-Roman in popularity as its roots in CATCH make it a more spectacular sport inspiring more competitors to take up the challenge.

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