Russian Olympic wrestler (born 1977)

Adam Hamidovich Saitiev, also spelled Saytiev, (Chechen: Адам Хамидович Сайтиев, born December 12, 1977) is a Russian wrestler of Chechen descent who won gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics for the Russian Federation at 85:kg cat. Adam also won the Wrestling World Championships in 1999 and 2002.

His elder brother Buvaisar Saitiev, also a wrestler, won gold in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and again in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Wrestling career

Adam initially started his senior-level international career at 69:kg, or around 152:lbs. He found the weight cut too severe, and soon moved up to 76:kg, where he was world champ in 1999. However, this was his elder brother Buvaisar's weight, and Adam wanted to compete alongside his brother at the Olympics, not compete with him for a spot on the team. Adam moved up to 85:kg, and despite being undersized, won two world-level *les at the weight.

Saitiev competed many times throughout after 2002. But his career had many injuries.

Saitiev made a comeback in 2012. He found significant success, but in the Russian freestyle wrestling championships 2012 final match lost to Denis Tsargush (1-0; 1-0)

Adam is a recipient of the Order of Honor (2001) and Order of Friendship (2004).

Match results

References