08/11/2024
IMHO, this topic is either misunderstood, or being over analyzed from an emotional perspective. There are rules, and athletes bend them to their advantage, which is understandable and a part of competitive sports.
It has been a well known practice in combat sports to train and compete anywhere between 5-30 lbs over the weight measured at weigh in. The aim is to carry muscle of a heavier weight class and employ severe calorie and water restriction to enter a lower weight class just before official weigh-in (and subsequently regain it in time for competition). UFC and boxing professionals can show average swings of 15lbs over a 36 hour period. They have the advantage of aiming for just one fight, so they don’t have to maintain a lower weight over a couple of days (like in the Olympics).
The question isn’t whether 100gm extra would have made a difference to Phogat’s bout. It’s one of a heavier athlete figuring out how to compete at a lower weight class and failing to lose the last 100gm in time for the weigh in.
For those pointing at her support team, I’m not sure the coaching staff can control human weight fluctuations, because only the athlete understands this best (after going through this for a few cycles).
It’s worth mentioning that in contrast, some athletes actually make the target weight and find that it leaves them feeling too weak to compete (even if they get back to normal weight by the time of the bout). In that case they go back to competing at a higher class. It’s a personal choice, one of toeing the fine line between gaining an advantage where you can and subjecting your body to extreme swings that can prove dangerous when you pit yourself against an opponent.
Does that mean she was robbed of a chance? IMHO, no. She played the game of weight management and lost as per the rules, which is acceptable and fair. Her competitors did a better job of playing the game. This is no different from other aspects of her training.
