We finally have it. After the ludicrous way Russian Nationals went, after all of the rumors and walkouts, the Russian wrestling federation has finally confirmed who their six men’s freestyle Olympians will be. According to an article on rsport.ru, this is the squad Russia has chosen. 

Russian Freestyle Olympic Team
57kg - Viktor Lebedev
65kg - Soslan Ramonov
74kg - Ainuar Geduev
86kg - Abdulrashid Sadulaev
97kg - Anzor Boltukaev
125kg - Biylal Makhov

Of course, some seemed obvious. Sadulaev was handed the 86kg spot after obliterating the world field the past two years, and then dominated his two competitions this year at the U23 Euro championships and Ziolkowski Memorial in Poland.

The biggest controversy was at 57kg, where Viktor Lebedev even admitted he was getting calls in his favor at Nationals. Despite that, the two-time world champ and bronze medalist from Vegas is going to be the guy at lightweight. This contrasts his earlier statement that he would decline the Olympic spot. 

This seems partly due to the coaches not trusting Bogomoev after he failed to medal in 2014 or 2015 at 61kg. Bogomoev also did not wrestle in the European championships as is custom for the Yarygin champions to do. While a young guy like Ismail Musukaev has certainly gained experience and the argument could be made he lost to Lebedev on bogus calls at Nationals, his performance in Poland left him out of the running.

The only international wrestler to beat Jordan Burroughs is Denis Tsargush, but after falling in the quarters at Russian Nationals last year and then losing to world bronze medalist Aniuar Geduev in this year’s finals will not be at his second Olympic Games. Some fans feel Geduev is the only 74kg in the world with a shot at stopping our champ.

Burroughs and Gedeuv's epic world semi:



Two weights that could have been affected by the walkout were ultimately given the spots to the Russian Nationals champions. At 65kg, 2014 world champion and 2015 bronze medalist Soslan Ramonov will make his first Olympic trip. Neither Magomed Kurbanaliev nor Ilyas Bekbulatov were deemed worthy of a shot at Ramonov after joining the walkout in May.

America has the reigning 97kg world champ in Kyle Snyder after he beat Abdusalam Gadisov in the finals in Vegas. In January, 2013 world bronze Anzor Boltukaev emerged seemingly out of nowhere to win Yarygin over Snyder and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner. The next month, Khadjimurat Gatsalov knocked off Snyder and Gadisov at the Medved.

Gadisov was included in the walkout, but given his losses it may not have mattered. When Boltukaev rolled up a leg lace to tech Gatsalov in a minute, his fate was sealed. Boltukaev will be bringing the thunder to Rio.

Due to Gatsalov’s sterling reputation, however, as well as the Russian coaches seeming total lack of distrust in their heavyweights, he was given a shot to make the 125kg spot. The Russian Nationals champ and Gatsalov and Biylal Makhov were all sent to Poland. Makhov won the tournament and will be their 125kg representative in Rio. All four years this quad, the winner of Russian Nationals at heavyweight was not selected to go to worlds or the Olympics.

How do you guys think this team stacks up with America? Did the Russian coaches make the right decisions? Let us know in the comments below.