Vinesh Phogat retires after Paris Olympics disqualification: “Wrestling won, I lost.”
Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement from wrestling just a day after being disqualified from the Paris Olympics. The disqualification occurred just hours before her scheduled gold-medal bout, casting a shadow over her career’s climax. Phogat, a celebrated wrestler, made the decision to step away from the sport, reflecting on her journey and the outcome with mixed emotions. Her retirement marks the end of a significant chapter in her wrestling career, leaving fans and the wrestling community to ponder what might have been. In her final remarks, she expressed a poignant sentiment: “Wrestling won, I lost.”
In a poignant announcement on Thursday morning, Vinesh Phogat declared her retirement from wrestling just one day after being disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024. The disqualification, which came hours before her gold medal bout, was a devastating blow to the accomplished wrestler. In a heartfelt social media post addressed to her mother, Premlata, Phogat expressed her sorrow and disappointment. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. Please forgive (me).” Her message conveyed the depth of her emotional turmoil and the weight of her departure from the sport that had defined much of her life.
Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics was a dramatic turn of events in what was supposed to be the pinnacle of her wrestling career. The 29-year-old athlete had become the first Indian female wrestler to advance to the finals of the Olympic Games and had secured at least a silver medal in the women’s 50kg category. However, her journey took a tragic turn when she was found to be 100 grams overweight during the mandatory weigh-in on Wednesday morning. Despite the tireless efforts of her coaches, support staff, and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Phogat’s attempts to rectify the situation were unsuccessful.
In her bid to make the weight cut, Phogat subjected herself to extreme measures. She went without food, avoided fluids, and stayed awake all night in a desperate attempt to shed the excess weight. She even resorted to cutting her hair short to reduce her weight. Unfortunately, these efforts proved insufficient, and she was disqualified from the event. The severity of the situation led to Phogat being taken to a polyclinic at the Games village due to severe dehydration.
Late on Wednesday night, Phogat took her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking a resolution to her disqualification. She requested that she be awarded a joint silver medal, arguing that the 100-gram discrepancy was an unfortunate but minor issue given her overall performance. The CAS has an ad-hoc division set up in Paris to handle disputes arising during the Olympics or in the ten days preceding the Opening Ceremony. The matter was scheduled to be addressed on Thursday morning.
Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who had lost to Phogat in the semifinals, was the athlete who replaced her in the final against American wrestler Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt went on to win the gold medal, leaving Phogat’s hopes pinned on the CAS ruling. Phogat is now hopeful that CAS will grant her a joint silver medal alongside Lopez.
The rules governing the admission of cases to CAS are stringent. Claimants must exhaust all internal remedies available under the statutes or regulations of the sports body concerned before appealing to CAS. However, there are exceptions in cases where the time needed to exhaust these remedies would render an appeal ineffective. Despite this, the International Federation for Wrestling (UWW) has made it clear to the IOA that the current weigh-in rule that led to Phogat’s disqualification cannot be altered at this time.
Nenad Lalovic, the chief of UWW, addressed the situation with a degree of finality. He informed Indian reporters in Paris, “I have nothing against that (India’s appeal) but I know the outcome. I don’t see anything that can be done. It is the competition’s rules and I really don’t think it is possible (to overturn the decision).” This statement reflects the rigid nature of the rules and the challenging prospects for Phogat’s appeal.
Her career, which spanned from 2001 to 2024, was distinguished by numerous achievements and milestones. She had become a symbol of excellence and perseverance in the sport, and her unexpected retirement comes as a significant loss to the wrestling community. The emotional weight of her announcement, coupled with the circumstances of her disqualification, highlights the harsh realities faced by athletes at the highest levels of competition.
In the wake of her retirement, there will likely be ongoing discussions and reflections on the implications of the weigh-in rules and the broader context of sports regulations. Phogat’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of wrestlers, even as the immediate focus shifts to the resolution of her appeal and the impact of her departure on Indian wrestling.