Former USSR wrestling coach explains Dagestani wrestler phenomenon

Yuri Shakhmuradov, longtime head coach of the USSR national team, discussed the phenomenon of Dagestani wrestlers in an interview, using five-time world champion Ruslan Ashuraliev as an example. Shakhmuradov explained that after Ali Aliev demonstrated how to win the world championship five times and Zagalav Abdulbekov showed how to win the Olympics, it established that Dagestanis were capable of consistent excellence. He attributed this success primarily to extraordinary work ethic, describing Ashuraliev's training loads as "beyond limits" that would seem insane by today's standards, including solo 28-kilometer runs from Makhachkala to the airport at 8 AM. Shakhmuradov concluded that the ability to endure suffering is the greatest phenomenon of Dagestani wrestlers. At the 2026 European Championship, Dagestani wrestlers won six gold medals, continuing this tradition of dominance.