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Vinesh Phogat Misses Out on Paris Olympics Medal
Vinesh Phogat, the Indian 50 kg wrestler, will not be medaling at the Paris Olympics. On Wednesday morning, she failed to make the crucial second weight cut necessary to participate in the gold medal bout.
Understanding Weight Cuts
In sports like wrestling and boxing, athletes compete in specific weight categories to ensure fair competition. Athletes often undergo weight cuts—rapid weight loss before competition—to meet these category requirements. This practice is common in combat sports.
Weigh-In Protocols for Wrestlers
According to United World Wrestling (UWW) Olympics rules, wrestlers must weigh in on the morning of their competition. On Day 1, wrestlers first attend a medical examination in their singlet and then have 30 minutes to weigh in, with multiple attempts allowed. If the competition spans two days, wrestlers must weigh in again on the second morning, with only a 15-minute window to make weight.
Vinesh Phogat’s Weight Cut Challenges
Vinesh Phogat has struggled with the 50 kg weight category. Recently switching from the 53 kg category, her usual weight hovers around 55-56 kg. Cutting down to 50 kg has been a significant challenge, especially since there is limited weight left to shed. The process of cutting water weight through sweating has proven extremely difficult for her.
Disqualification Despite Day 1 Success
UWW rules require athletes to make weight on all competition days. Despite making weight on Day 1, Vinesh could not maintain the 50 kg requirement on Day 2, leading to her disqualification. UWW’s regulations state that failure to attend or pass the weigh-in on either day results in elimination and last-place ranking.
Injury and Weigh-In Exceptions
If an athlete is injured on the first day, they can retain their results without a second weigh-in. However, if injured after Day 1, they must still attend the second weigh-in or face elimination. In Vinesh’s case, had she been injured on Day 1, she would have kept her silver medal standing.
The Reason for Two-Day Weigh-Ins
Olympic wrestling competitions now span two days, with initial rounds to semi-finals on Day 1 and gold medal and repechage rounds on Day 2. This change, implemented in 2017, aims to prevent athletes from losing excessive weight in one day.
The Challenge of Maintaining Weight
Athletes often resort to extreme weight-cutting methods, such as avoiding carbohydrates and water while exercising intensely to lose water weight quickly. Vinesh managed to weigh in at 50 kg on Day 1 but regained the lost weight by Day 2. Despite efforts to shed the regained weight overnight, she missed the mark by a few grams.
