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For men's wrestling at the 2008 Games, there are seven weight classes in freestyle and seven in Greco-Roman. For women's freestyle wrestling, there are four weight classes. In wrestling, there is no "unlimited" weight class. Boxing terms such as flyweight, welterweight and super heavyweight are no longer used in wrestling, although competitors in the 120kg (264.5 lbs) division are often referred to as heavyweights.
The Beijing Olympic wrestling tournament begins on Aug. 12, Day 4 of the Games, and concludes on August 21, Day 13 of the Games.
Weight classes
Men
In both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, the seven classes are as follows (numbers reflect maximum weights; pound conversions are unofficial):
• 55kg (121 lbs)
• 60kg (132 lbs)
• 66kg (145.5 lbs)
• 74kg (163 lbs)
• 84kg (185 lbs)
• 96kg (211.5 lbs)
• 120kg (264.5 lbs)
Women
The four classes are as follows (numbers reflect maximum weights; pound conversions are unofficial):
• 48kg (105.5 lbs)
• 55kg (121 lbs)
• 63kg (138.5 lbs)
• 72kg (158.5 lbs)
Greco-Roman vs. freestyle
There are two styles of Olympic wrestling, though the rules for both are virtually identical. The chief difference is that in Greco-Roman, a wrestler may not attack his opponent below the waist, nor use his own legs to trip, lift or execute other holds. In freestyle, both the arms and legs are used to execute holds.
