During the 1972 Olympics, an unforgettable scene took place during the Greco-Roman wrestling competition.
Chris Taylor of the United States, weighing in at a colossal 198 kilograms, faced off against Wilfried Dietrich of West Germany in the super heavyweight category.
Dietrich was also a seasoned competitor, with a decorated career of five Olympics and six world championships.
And, well, what took place prior to their encounter is wrapped in mystery – with various sources suggesting that Dietrich embraced Taylor before the match.
This gesture wasn’t just a friendly greeting, but was interpreted by some to be Dietrich’s strategy to assess the feasibility of locking hands together.
Jim Peckham, an assistant coach of the freestyle team, recalled witnessing this embrace – which he believed was a calculated move by Dietrich to gain an edge.
Dietrich executed one of the most memorable Suplex throws in history…
And, even though some critics argued that Dietrich’s fall onto both shoulders could be seen as self-pinning, that did not change the outcome of the match. Nor the spectacularity of the technique.
Check it out on the video below:
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