Kyle Snyder’s road to Paris has just got a major boost with the Olympic exit of a dominant Russian competitor. The wrestling world is buzzing with news that could reshape the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. Abdulrashid Sadulaev, the Russian powerhouse who won Olympic gold in both the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo has been sidelined. 

Renowned as the ‘The Russian Tank’, Sadulaev has been the immovable force in the 97-kilogram weight class. But the reigning Wrestling Olympic champion has been taken off the roster by the IOC (International Olympic Committee). And with this news, Snyder might be finding his road to Paris less obstructed. The rivalry between Snyder and Sadulaev has not been just a battle of individual greatness. Rather, their rivalry has been a clash of wrestling titans between the USA and Russia. But a recent IG post by the latter has left things in limbo.

Epic rivalry between Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Kyle Snyder, altered by Sadulaev’s unexpected ban

Abdulrashid Sadulaev is not only a threat to wrestlers of today’s time from across the globe, but is one of the greatest of all time. With impeccable speed and phenomenal technique, he has not only won 2 Olympic golds but also four consecutive World Championships titles. But the extraordinary career graph of Sadulaev has faced just one downfall. And that has been his loss to America’s youngest Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder in the 2017 World Championships. In a recent IG post by Sadulaev itself, it seemed contradictory to him being overruled from the IOC as he was seen sparring and practicing on the mats. While this is ambiguous in and of itself, will we see the Russian Tank in Paris after all or does the rule of the IOC reign supreme? Time will tell. The caption was penned -“About 50 days before the Olympics in Paris. Step by step we move towards our goal.” As cryptic as this post was, will we witness Russia in the Olympics?

Amid wrestling sensations like Jordan Burroughs, David Taylor, Kyle Dake, and Gable Stevenson Snyder, too, are the gold standards out there. For it’s only Snyder besides another wrestler who has managed to make the Russian tank lose. Moreover, this rivalry is not just within the rings of individual glory, but has extended beyond borders. And with USA and Russia being the nexus of wrestling, the enthusiasm and pressure among fans reaches the zenith.

The unfortunate political upheaval between Russia and Ukraine has caused a global disorder. Although the athletic world is supposed to be a neutral zone, the sports community and the athletic realm too has also been facing repercussions. The Russian wrestling team faced unfortunate consequences. According to a report by Reuters, Abdulrashid Sadulaev has been banned by the IOC after news regarding his support for the Ukraine conflict circulated. Despite this setback, Sadulaev said, “Somewhere in the back of my mind, I am sure that I will go,”. But to fans’ dismay, he failed to meet the criteria for individual neutral athletes, thus putting a halt to his Paris dreams. 

Snyder’s quest for Olympic redemption amidst new challengers and unexpected twists

With Sadulaev most likely out of the equation, Snyder’s chances of reclaiming Olympic gold have skyrocketed. But Kyle Snyder will also be facing a few formidable competitors on his way to glory. Names like Magomedkhan Magomedov of Azerbaijan, Givi Matcharashvili from Georgia, and Akhmed Tazhudinov from Bahrain have graced the list of competitors in the 97 kg weight class.

But among them, Snyder must be aiming to secure a win against his Bahraini competitor. In the 2023 World Championships, Akhmed Tazhidinov defeated Snyder and finished in the highest podium position.Sadulaev’s expected showdown in Paris was set to be another chapter in his storied rivalry with America’s Kyle Snyder. But now with the massive turn of events, can fans already speculate how this Olympics is going to turn out for Snyder? Will Snyder dominate on the mat and bring home the gold for the USA?