Soviet wrestling coach credits extreme work ethic for Dagestani dominance in wrestling

Yuri Shakhmuradov, longtime head coach of the USSR national wrestling team, explained the phenomenon of Dagestani wrestlers' success in an interview. He cited two-time world champion Ruslan Ashuraliev as an example, noting that Ashuraliev performed training loads so extreme that people today would think him mentally unwell. Specifically, Ashuraliev would run 28 kilometers from Makhachkala to the airport at 8am, alone and without conversation partners, as a regular training routine. Shakhmuradov emphasized that the ability to endure and suffer is the greatest attribute of Dagestani wrestlers. This legacy was established by champions like Ali Aliev (five-time world champion) and Zagalav Abdulbekov (Olympic champion). At the 2026 European Championships, Dagestani wrestlers won six gold medals, continuing this tradition of dominance.