ARA ABRAHAMIAN : AN ANTI OLYMPIAN
While Michael Phelps bask in the glory of receiving gold medals, and other athletes are content to receive any Olympic Medal: Ara Abrahamian who represents Sweden committed an act that disgraced his country by refusing his bronze medal, leaving the podium, refusing interviews, slamming the doors, declared that he was “robbed of the gold medal”, and that he was “finished with wrestling”. The behaviour of this errant “wrestler” was reinforced by his coach Leo Myllar who stated “it is all politics”.
Never have I read about such anti Olympian Behaviour on the part of an athlete. There are athletes who would have done anything to even acquire one medal. At least, the kayak athlete from Togo did not complain about receiving a bronze medal. For the nation of Togo to receive a bronze medal was better than not receiving one at all. Mongolia is the recipient of one gold medal and silver medal at the time that I am writing this article. Mongolia is content to have any medal than not to have one.
Ara Abrahamian and Leo Myllar have behaved like they are small children who throw temper tantrums when they do not get things their way. Ara Abrahamian has even stated that he will “quit wrestling”. Ara Abrahamian and Leo Myllar demonstrated their arrogance, insecurity, and infantile behaviour in front of the host nation The People’s Republic of China and the world. I refuse to stoop to their level and judge a country such as Sweden on the basis of two frustrated people. I will judge the Swedish Olympic Team for their poor selection of a wrestler and a wrestling coach. Even Jesse Ventura [a former US Wrestler and Governor of Minnesota] had more dignity than the disaster called Abrahamian and Myllar. Jesse Ventura lost at times and maybe was in third and second place in wrestling but he took it in stride.
I am writing a public repudiation of the Anti Olympian behaviour of Abrahamian and Myllar. I am repudiating the acts of Abrahamian and Myllar for their desire to win the Gold Medal above all else. The Olympics like most sporting events is not about winning. The Olympics is about enjoying yourself regardless of being a spectator or an athlete. While it would be ideal to win, the important thing is to enjoy the Olympics. The Athletes whether they win a medal or not at least take back with them the memory of their moment in time [using a quote from Whitney Houston].
Ara Abrahamian can leave wrestling after his disgraceful performance in the Beijing Olympics. The Wrestling Community and the Beijing Olympics does not need Abrahamian and Myllar. I will give Abrahamian and Myllar my Gold Medal which is the Gold Medal of being an Anti Olympian. I will close with a recommendation for Abrahamian and Myllar, return to Sweden and form a duo comedy group called The Two Stooges.
El Noticiero de Alvarez Galloso 
The 1972 U.S. men’s basketball team had exactly the right idea for protesting this sort of thing: just blow off the medal ceremony altogether. They made their protest in no uncertain terms, without making @$$es of themselves and their country, or ruining the experience for the other medalists. If Abrahamian had followed this example instead of putting on his little tantrum, he’d be commanding a lot more respect today than he does.
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Clearly you haven’t heard about the 1972 US Basketball team
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I’m not sure why Abrahamian didn’t receive a harsher punishment. After all, this IS the Olympics competition. His behavior is unacceptable, even if his performance should’ve received gold. There’s more to sportsmanship than just «sports».
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For Ara A: I do not know if you are the person I wrote about. I heard about the 1972 USA Olympic Basketball Team. But the USA Olympic Basketball Team behaved with dignity compared with Ara Abrahamian and his coach. Roberto
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Martha: I wish Ara Abrahamian had received harsher punsihment.Roberto
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Joshua: Thanks for your comments
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I think that Ara did the right thing. The referee was obviously corrupt and/or biased.
It is a bit weird that the referee afterwards changed the reason for awarding the win to the Italian. The referee must have realised that his first ruling was incorrect and he had to find another reason for his decision.
Had it been a fair match Ara would probably have won the gold. It is not weird that he was angry.
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After seeing this drama on TV I was confused, as most people were I suppose.
However, after seeing the actual wrestling match, there are no doubt that the referee made a huge mistake. Unless he is completely unexperienced or got very poor vision this «mistake» was nothing but the result of corruption. Now what mr Abrahamian did during the prize ceremony, I can understand if people find hard to accept, just as I understand the frustration of the Swede and his will to make a statement.
The IOC’s decision to strip him from the medal is hardly surprising, not doing so would be to admit that they were wrong.
What is more surprising is the lack of debate and media coverage of what happend during the match and behind the scenes. The big issue for IOC would not be one wrestler refusing to accept his medal but, the corruption within the sport, THAT and the use of performance-enhancing drugs should be the focus the IOC. Unfortunately it seems to be a very stale organization with few daring to raise their voice, like Mr Robert Helmick, the former president of the United States Olympic Committee who asked Samaranche to step down.
So, more of Abrahamians, and Helmicks, and less corruption and cheating so that the Olympic Games can regain some of it’s lost honour and dignity. (hopefully in time for the Olympic Games here in London)
-John McAllister
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I can’t understand why media focus on Ara’s behaviour instead of the actual problem with corruption we see in wrestling today. Please focus on the serious issue! Help all wrestlers to a sport without bribes and corrupt judges. The anti olympians in this case is no one but the judges.
The semifinal ended with a judgement that can’t be justified. We’ve heard three different explanations but none of them makes any sense. Why change explanation and why can’t they comment the situation if everything is in order to the rules of the game?
Ara lost his temper, but I can’t blame him. After four years of training he was robbed of an honest chance to wrestle for the gold medal. The judges are obviously corrupt and no one should have to accept this.
Media writes about Ara «violating the spirit of fair play». Fair play?! There’s no fair play when the judges are corrupt and wont give the athlete a proper explanation of why he lost the game. That is violating the spirit of fair play. The judge actually laughed Ara in the face when he questioned the judgement. The beauty of fair play in wrestling is long lost.
Ara refusing his bronze medal is a statement to the world that this is not OK. Ara is the victim of an awful conspiracy and everyone who likes wrestling should protest againt this. It’s a great big shame for wrestling as a sport.
IOC’s decision to take the bronze from Ara is a correct act, he clearly demonstrated that he doesn’t want it.
All the judges involved should be suspended and wrestling should be taken off the Olympics until the corruption is gone.
For me, and everyone I’ve talked to, Ara Abrahamian is still a hero! I don’t think the swedish people, Ara’s coach or Ara himself should, or does, feel any shame about Ara neglecting the bronze medal. I, for sure, don’t. Shame, shame, shame on the judges!!!
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Isn’t it funny that you call Ara Abrahamian an anti olympian…
Today the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that he was right (and that FILA was wrong).
When the court writes about a violation of «the Olympic Charter and FILA’s own rules about fair play.», they do not write about Ara, but about FILA…
Furthermore, in the ruling you can read this:
«We limit ourselves to ruling that FILA must, consistently with the (Olympic) Charter and general principles of fairness, establish for the future a jury of appeal to determine the validity or otherwise of complaints of the kind ventilated by (Abrahamian),»
Have a look at this article http://wrestling.teamusa.org/news/article/6383
Cheers,
Markus
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Markus: I am having a look at the article right now. An article will be appearing soon.
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Yeah, seems like mr. Abrahamian was right after all. Also checked the video, cant see anything he is doing wrong. Think we all might have judged mr Abrahamian a bit too early….
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