Wrestling

Wrestling, in the West, sport in which 2 persons grapple and try to pin one another's shoulders to the floor by means of various holds. An ancient Greek sport, wrestling became a recognized Olympic sport in 1904. In the United States the preferred form is the free-style, or catch-as-catch-can. The Greco-Roman form, popular in Europe, forbids holds below the waist. Bouts are divided into 3 periods of 3 minutes each. The match is over when a wrestler pins both his opponent's shoulders for the count of 3 (a fall). Matches can also be won on points awarded by the referee for skilled maneuvers.