Grappling For A Shot At Olympics

The Road to Atlanta goes through Spokane today and Saturday during the U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling trials.

Eight world or Olympic champions are among 98 athletes fighting for 10 berths in the Summer Olympic Games from July 19 through Aug. 4 in Atlanta.

U.S. trials co-director Toby Steward of Spokane says advance ticket sales of more than 20,000 already make this the most successful freestyle wrestling event in U.S. history.

“We’re going to at least double what they sold in Pittsburgh for the 1992 trials,” Steward said. “We’ve sold more than 7,000 tickets for Saturday night. We think we’ll get between 8,000 and 10,000.”

Steward says more than 100 media credentials have been issued and the finals are scheduled to be televised June 22 on ESPN.

This is the third time Spokane has served as host for an Olympic trials. The U.S. road cycling trials were held here in 1984 and 1988.

Wrestling begins at 10 a.m. today and continues until 5 p.m. One wrestler in each weight division will advance from today’s competition to Saturday’s best-of-3 final against the top-seeded U.S. national champion. Saturday’s sessions are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Fanfest will be held in Riverfront Park’s central meadow today and Saturday, featuring an international food fair, live music, an adult beer and wine garden, vendors and autograph sessions with Olympic gold medalists.

See Sports for additional coverage.

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