USSR coach discusses Dagestani wrestling work ethic using Ashuralieva example

Yuri Shakhmuradov, longtime head coach of the USSR national team, discussed the phenomenon of Dagestani wrestlers in an interview. He used Ruslan Ashuralieva, a two-time world champion, as an example of extreme work ethic. Shakhmuradov recounted how Ashuralieva would run 28 kilometers alone from Makhachkala to the airport at 8 a.m., describing his training loads as beyond what modern athletes would believe possible. He attributed the success of Dagestani wrestlers to their exceptional ability to endure hardship and outwork others. At the 2026 European Championship, Dagestani wrestlers won six gold medals, continuing their dominance in the sport.