Longtime USSR coach discusses Dagestani wrestling work ethic and dominance

Yuri Shakhmuradov, longtime head coach of the USSR national team, discussed the phenomenon of Dagestani wrestlers in an interview, using Ruslan Ashuraliiev as an example. Shakhmuradov described Ashuraliiev's training regimen as "beyond limits," including solo 28-kilometer runs from Makhachkala to the airport at 8 a.m., saying modern athletes would think such workloads insane. He attributed Dagestani wrestling success to work ethic and the ability to endure extreme training loads, citing early pioneers like Ali Aliev and Zagalav Abdulbekov. The interview notes that at the 2026 European Championships, Dagestani wrestlers won six gold medals, continuing their dominant tradition.