Gable, Saitiev, Sanderson...

[Q mystic]

I have read that each one of these guys were considered the best ever...

As unbiased as you can be, who do you think the 'world' of wrestling would generally regard as the best ever? Thanks.

 

[hayliks]

best ever in what sense? sanderson in his collegiate career was flawless, but his olympic career wasn't that of dominance like Gable's was. then karelin was the most dominant wrestler in history 13 years undefeated, how can anybody compare to that?

 

[deadlyshaolin]

I hear good things about Karelin...

 

[DaRuckus337]

Karelin and Gable are on another level. Nobody else is even close to them. Karelin obviously had his 13 year unbeaten streak in international competition. Gable never lost an international match period (though in a much shorter career).

 

[fullerene]

Alexander Medved - FILA Greatest Wrestler of 20th Century (Freestyle)
Alexander Karelin - FILA Greatest Wrestler of 20th Century (Greco-Roman)

 

[DaRuckus337]

Alexander Medved - FILA Greatest Wrestler of 20th Century (Freestyle)
Alexander Karelin - FILA Greatest Wrestler of 20th Century (Greco-Roman)

Good point. Medved belongs in the discussion as well. Can't discount 3 Olympic gold medals. But Gable and Karelin were literally impossible to score on in their careers (Gable outscored his opponents in 180-1 in international/olympic qualifying competition, Karelin went nearly a decade without being scored upon). Medved didn't quite reach that level of dominance over his competition, but he was pretty much unbeatable for the better part of a decade.

 

[spalterego]

I would go with Karelin b/c he was dominant, for a long time and was somewhat of an innovator. Medved was not as dominant but was more of an innovator. Gable was perhaps the most dominant, but for the shortest period of time and, as a wrestler, was not really very innovative rather he just worked harder, meaner and better but doing the same things as everybody else. People were afraid to wrestle Karelin.

 

[MMAhistorian]

Its Karelin by a mile. Totally dominant, and reinvented the shw wrestler. Its not even close.

 

[KDawg]

I would put Karelin as one of the greatest athletes of all time, let alone greatest wrestler...

 

[scorcho]

It is really hard to make cross-discipline comparisons, if you ask me at least. Freestyle and Greco are very different, and you never know who would have been more successful if they had crossed over.

 

[mepersoner]

I think it's pretty accepted that Karelin was the most dominant wrestler ever, but that even though Gable may have been also very dominant, what really makes him "better" than a lot of other equally good wrestlers was his dominating performance as a wrestling COACH afterwards. Dominating wreslter and wrestling coatch = best ever?

 

[MMAhistorian]

I think it's pretty accepted that Karelin was the most dominant wrestler ever, but that even though Gable may have been also very dominant, what really makes him "better" than a lot of other equally good wrestlers was his dominating performance as a wrestling COACH afterwards. Dominating wreslter and wrestling coatch = best ever?

No.

 

[fullerene]

What makes Karelin seem great is that he was great and most people remember his period of domination when they were younger.

What makes Gable seem great is that he was great and people remember hearing about him as a wrestler when he was a dominant American coach when they were younger.

What makes Medved not seem as great is that he won all three gold medals before most of the posters were born.

I thik FILA is the most qualified organization to choose and they've put Medbed and Karelin on top. Gable's argument would be that he had the potential to surpass anyone, but if you want to judge based on potential you open yourself up to a whole lot of speculative debate, including people who were athletic ut didn't accomplish a whole lot--that's true for any sport.

 

[CoutureFighter]

I think it's pretty accepted that Karelin was the most dominant wrestler ever, but that even though Gable may have been also very dominant, what really makes him "better" than a lot of other equally good wrestlers was his dominating performance as a wrestling COACH afterwards. Dominating wreslter and wrestling coatch = best ever?

John Smith should be there as well then. He has 6 world titles, including 2 olympic gold medals, and is a very successful head coach at Oklahoma State.

 

[MMAhistorian]

John Smith should be there as well then. He has 6 world titles, including 2 olympic gold medals, and is a very successful head coach at Oklahoma State.

Greatest American wrestler for sure. Gable has a bigger legacy but John Smith was the best of the best. Of course, people may see it otherwise, this is just my opinion.

 

[georgejjr]

What makes Karelin seem great is that he was great and most people remember his period of domination when they were younger.

What makes Gable seem great is that he was great and people remember hearing about him as a wrestler when he was a dominant American coach when they were younger.

What makes Medved not seem as great is that he won all three gold medals before most of the posters were born.

I thik FILA is the most qualified organization to choose and they've put Medbed and Karelin on top. Gable's argument would be that he had the potential to surpass anyone, but if you want to judge based on potential you open yourself up to a whole lot of speculative debate, including people who were athletic ut didn't accomplish a whole lot--that's true for any sport.

It's definitely true that the longer ago the athlete performed, the less outstanding his contributions seem. Not just for wrestling, it's true for any sport. We remember the heroes of our youth. Beyond that, it becomes very hard to say who was the best ever in wrestling (or much of anything else worth doing). Medved, Gable and Karelin were all great, and choosing between them is pretty meaningless. Great is great.

 

[Q mystic]

Not much for Buvaisar Saitiev or Cael Sanderson? Or is it a matter of 'they're not finished yet'?

 

[cycgrappler]

Cael Sanderson was something like 160-0 in his college career before winning the olympics.

 

[GuardGame]

i'll read this l8r.

Thanks

 

[hayliks]

Cael Sanderson was something like 160-0 in his college career before winning the olympics.

he was also a redshirt, and lost a few matches as a redshirt...