Greco-Roman wrestling
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Greco-Roman wrestling is a form of amateur wrestling practiced throughout the world. It is one of two styles contested in the Olympic games and one of the base styles of Real Pro Wrestling.
According to the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), Greco-Roman wrestling is one of the four main forms of amateur competitive wrestling practiced internationally today, the other three being Judo wrestling, Freestyle wrestling and Sambo wrestling.
Popularly referred to simply as 'Greco,' this style of wrestling forbids attacks below the waist. As a result, throws are encouraged as the opponent cannot avoid being thrown by simply hooking or grabbing his opponent's leg.
This form of wrestling was believed to have adapted from the Ancient Greek style of wrestling and to have been practiced mostly by Roman soldiers throughout the empire. In fact, it is derived from a 19th Century French form of show-wrestling popular for its high throws. Real ancient wrestling was quite different; see pankration.
Famous practitioners include the Russian Alexander Karelin and the American Rulon Gardner; a popular story holds that Abraham Lincoln was in a Greco match when he was informed that he had been elected President of the United States.
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