European Wrestling Championships facts for kids
Quick facts for kids European Wrestling Championships |
|
|---|---|
| Status | active |
| Genre | sports event |
| Date(s) | February – May |
| Frequency | annual |
| Location(s) | various |
| Inaugurated | 1911 |
| Activity | amateur wrestling |
| Organised by | FILA → UWW Europe |
The European Wrestling Championships is a big yearly sports event. It brings together the best wrestlers from all over Europe. This competition is one of the oldest in the modern world for wrestling. Only the Olympic wrestling events are older!
Contents
What is Wrestling?
Wrestling is a sport where two people try to gain control over each other. They use holds and moves to pin their opponent's shoulders to the mat. There are different styles of wrestling. The European Championships mainly feature two Olympic styles:
- Greco-Roman wrestling: In this style, wrestlers can only use their arms and upper body. They cannot grab their opponent's legs.
- Freestyle wrestling: This style allows wrestlers to use their whole body. They can grab legs and use leg attacks.
Both styles require a lot of strength, skill, and strategy.
History of the Championships
The European Wrestling Championships have a long and interesting history.
Early Years: Greco-Roman Only
The very first championships took place in 1898. For many years, until 1927, only Greco-Roman wrestling was part of the event. This was the main style of wrestling back then.
Adding Freestyle Wrestling
In 1929, something new happened! Separate events for freestyle wrestling were added. This meant wrestlers could compete in both styles. It made the championships even more exciting.
Unified Events and New Styles
From 1970 onwards, both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling were held together. They became part of the same big event. This made it easier for fans to watch all the action.
In 1973, another style called Sambo wrestling was included. Sambo is a martial art from Russia. However, Sambo was later removed from the championships. Since 1983, Sambo has had its own separate competitions.
More recently, in 2014, other traditional wrestling styles were added. These are styles recognized by UWW, the main group for wrestling around the world. This helps to celebrate the many different forms of wrestling.
Related pages
- World Wrestling Championships
- European U23 Wrestling Championship
See also
In Spanish: Campeonato Europeo de Lucha para niños
