Legendary Soviet wrestling coach discusses Dagestani work ethic

Yuri Shakhmuradov, longtime head coach of the Soviet national wrestling team, discussed the extraordinary work ethic of Dagestani wrestlers in an interview. He cited the late Ruslan Ashurali, a 1974 and 1975 world champion, as an example of extreme training loads, including solo 28-kilometer runs from Makhachkala to the airport. Shakhmuradov said the ability to endure is the greatest phenomenon of Dagestani wrestlers. He also credited champions Ali Aliev and Zagalav Abdulbekov with setting the standard. At the 2026 European Championships, Dagestani wrestlers won six gold medals.