Legendary Soviet wrestling coach discusses Dagestan's training philosophy

Yuri Shakhmuradov, longtime head coach of the USSR national wrestling team, explained the phenomenal success of Dagestani wrestlers through the example of five-time world champion Ruslan Ashuralieva. Shakhmuradov attributed Dagestan's wrestling dominance to extreme work ethic and ability to endure, which began with legends like Ali Aliev and Zagalav Abdulbekov. He described Ashuralieva's training regimen as beyond comprehension by modern standards, including solo 28-kilometer runs from Makhachkala to the airport starting at 8 AM. Shakhmuradov emphasized that the ability to endure suffering is the greatest phenomenon of Dagestani wrestlers. The context note mentions that at the 2026 European Wrestling Championship, Dagestani wrestlers won six gold medals, demonstrating the continued success of this training philosophy.