Video: Kurt Angle Featured On SKY Discussing 2012 Olympic Return TNA Wrestling Star Kurt Angle To Try Out For The 2012 Olympics | WrestleHeat.com He was the winner of the 1996 Gold Medal in the 100 kg class, to later become one of the most successful pro-wrestlers in history. Now in his 40's, Angle is going back to the Olympic trials. This is a great story for anyone who either recognizes the name Kurt Angle or who ever was a wrestler, of either the amateur or pro variety. As for me, I once was an amateur wrestler, until major injury, and was also a huge pro-wrestling fan (and a fan of Kurt Angle when he was in the WWF) before I grew out of it, so this story is very exciting to me. I'd have watched the Olympic wrestling matches anyway, but now I look forward to it with great excitement. If anyone in the world can do it, it is this very guy. He is in great shape and just may have what it takes to pull off the big tournament wins. Maybe not another Gold Medal, but I would be surprised if he didn't at least make the team.
I know that NBA players play in the Olympics and there are probably other examples, but what are the current rules about professionals participating in the Olympics?
Well I don't think being a pro wrestler and hitting one another with chairs disqualifies you from competing in the olympics. All/most Olympians have jobs, Angles just happens to pay more than most,
Once upon a time professional athletes were prohibited from competing in the Olympics. Basketball, hockey, etc. Jim Thorpe had his track and field medals taken away because he played a season of minor league baseball. Clearly the rules have changed. Some Olympians have jobs but many are essentially professionals, receiving sponsorship money for training. I was just asking a question about the current rules, not offering any criticism.
What AUTiger00 is saying is that what Angle does on TV is not the same as Olympic wrestling. One could hardly call him a "professional wrestler" in the true sense of the words, rather than their acquired connotation, just because he performs in a wrestling/barfight-inspired stage production in front of a live audience. It would be as if members of the Harlem Globetrotters were disqualified from being Olympians.
and all I'm asking is "What are the rules?" If you don't know then that's OK but please don't keep misunderstanding my question.
From what I understand, Olympic rules changed greatly thanks to the movement began by Steve Prefontaine. Essentially he made it possible for "amateur" athletes to make money off of there likeness due tot he fact that it was the only way they could survive. When your life revolves around training 8 hours a day to be an athlete it's hard to hold down a full-time job. I have four friends that medaled in the2008 games. Two of them for the US,two for the Netherlands. In both instances they receive a small monthly stipend from their respective National Governing Bodies, receive performance bonuses for how they do in events throughout the year and then work part-time jobs to make additional cash. The Olympics no longer works like the NCAA, an athlete can make money off of their likeness and still qualify for the Olympics. Michael Phelps is a prime example. He became ineligible for the the NCAA due to his sponsorship earnings after the 2008 games, but is still eligible for the Olympics. The Olympic games are a business, it benefits them to field teams with athletes that are well known. I think amatuerism has essentially been removed as a requirement. They simply want the best athletes.
1. Professional athletics is formally defined as any athletic event that the participants are paid for. Professional wrestling is considered a professional sport by the IOC based on the very wide definition. 2. The ban on professionals taking part in the Olympics was lifted in the 1970s. 3. However, the individual accrediting bodies for each sport/event under the IOC determine how many professionals can compete in each sport and how many may participate for each team taking part. So it's entirely possible for Angle to try out and potentially be on the team, but it's also possible that the IOC committees will say no.
