The world will turn its eyes to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5 to 21, 2016 as they host the Games of the XXXI Olympiad. More than 10,500 athletes from 206 countries – including Kosovo and South Sudan for the first time – are expected to compete for 306 sets of medals in 28 sports.
Wrestling has been contested at the Summer Olympic Games since it was introduced in the Ancient Olympic Games in 708 B.C. It has been competed at every modern Summer Olympics since 1896 with the exception of 1900. Both Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling are competed and along with boxing it is one of only two sports that require its participants still to hold amateur status. Sumo wrestling is not an Olympic sport.
The United States and Russia have been the dominant countries in wrestling and Canada has won 16 medals (2 gold) all in freestyle wrestling.