Trump’s executive order hits wrestling hard

Editor's note: Chase Lynn is a former Dubuque Senior wrestler and high school journalist. He is a student at the University of Missouri, majoring in Communications and seeking a minor in Journalism and Political Science. He does broadcast commentating for Mizzou wrestling through ESPN3 and the Mizzou Network. He's also a huge wrestling fan and had never been to an international tournament. He was in Las Vegas as a fan.

In February of 2013, the International Olympic Committee executive board voted to cut the sport of wrestling from the 2020 Olympic Games and future Olympic Games. Stunned and upset, thousands of fans and athletes worldwide petitioned and showed their support for the historic sport.

Just a few months following the IOC's original decision, it was announced wrestling would remain an Olympic sport until at least 2024.

That brief scare was an awakening for members and fans of the sport. In order to prevent a future catastrophe, numerous rule changes were introduced to revamp the sport in an effort to make it more enjoyable and action-packed for fans.

In September of 2015, I traveled to Las Vegas to witness the World Wrestling Championships. This was the first time in more than a decade the United States was hosting the event. Athletes from 95 nations competed, the second most in history for a World Championship.

There were countless moments and memories I will cherish for eternity, but the one that stands out the most is the passion and liveliness of countless Iranian wrestling fans who filled the majority of the arena. Whether it was for a member of their home country or just two athletes giving it their all, the faithful Iranians were fixated on every single match. From singing, waving the Iranian flag and blowing their infamous horn, it was nearly impossible not to feel some sort of chill running down your spine every time the voices yelled 'Iran' and the sound was echoing throughout the entire stadium.

The passionate Iranians were a fine rebuttal to those who believe wrestling, especially at the international level, lacks at least one large and fairly hard to ignore fan base. There was no denying the wrestling fans from Iran were the dearest to the sport that weekend in Vegas.

They weren't just passionate for the sake of the sport though. The Iranians had a lot to be proud of. The Iranian national team claimed seven medals at the World Championship that year, four in freestyle and three in Greco-Roman. (Iran does not have women's national team). Despite not winning one gold medal in Vegas, the Iranian fans never stopped cheering. Intriguingly enough, though, a lot of their love went to American wrestlers as well, in particular, Jordan Burroughs. In route to winning his third world title, the fans of Iran switched up their chant when Burroughs stepped foot on the mat. Instead of chanting 'Iran' they would replace it with a raucous 'USA,' which caught on quickly with the American fans as nearly everyone in arena was soon chanting 'USA' after the three toots of the Iranian horn.

This is what wrestling is all about.

In an Associated Press interview before 'Beat the Streets' in which Team USA hosted Iran in a dual meet in Times Square in New York City, Burroughs spoke highly of the Iranian fans, 'They're the greatest fans in the world. The most passionate, the most dedicated, they love the sport. It's an amazing journey to be a part of any event they are within.'

A month after 'Beat the Streets,' the Iranian national team returned to the U.S. for the men's freestyle World Cup, which was held in Los Angeles. Burroughs, set to compete, was forced to withdraw shortly before his first match because of the birth of his daughter. Shortly before the Iranian national team claimed its fifth consecutive World Cup, it presented Team USA with a termeh, a cloth that originates from Iran, as a gift for Burroughs, for all he's done for the sport as well as to honor the birth of his daughter. Burroughs later sent out a tweet thanking them for the gift.

Wrestling is a sport dominated by countries who practice Islam. In the 2016 Olympics, countries such as Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Turkey and Uzbekistan claimed one or more medals in the sport of wrestling. According to the Pew Research Center, 90 percent of the population in these nations are Muslims, with the exception of Kazakhstan where 70 percent of their population is of the Islamic religion.

Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning visas and/or travel permits to people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. In response, Iran announced all U.S. citizens would be banned from entering the country. This looks like the beginning of an ongoing, fierce chess match between the two nations.

In return, Iran on Friday banned the U.S. wrestlers from participating in the freestyle World Championships in Kermanshah, Feb. 16-17. The travel ban and the tensions it has caused also could jeopardize the 2018 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Iowa City.

The Iranian fans wanting to continue the growth of the sport they so deeply love now fear the bans could put a dent in the progress the sport has made on the international level. S.V. Taraz, who was born in Iran and currently lives in the United States, is one of those passionate Iranian wrestling fans. Better known by wrestling fanatics by his twitter handle, @Irani_V, Taraz often informs American journalists and wrestling fans about who will be competing for Iran in international events. He fears what the future now holds for the sport.

'This could have a negative impact on wrestling if it goes through,' Taraz said.

' ... The purpose of these events was to promote international wrestling, but in reality the effects of these bans could be negative by limiting the number of high profile matches in the sport,' Taraz said.

USA Wrestling's International Ambassador, Christina 'Kiki' Kelley, is a key figure in building relationships between the U.S. and other countries in the sport of wrestling. Kelley is well known for being the first woman since 1979 to attend a sporting event inside an all-male Iranian Arena. In 2013, she'd been selected as the first female team leader for the U.S. Men's Greco-Roman national team. As team leader, Kelley traveled with the national team to the 2014 Greco-Roman World Cup in Iran's capital city of Tehran.

'I was told I'd probably not be allowed to attend the tournament, but I wanted to go and support the team even if it meant standing outside,' Kelley said. 'As a Midwesterner, showing respect was a given for me, but unexpected from the Iranian side.'

She laughed, 'I think they expected Jersey Shore or the Kardashians.'

Kelley could never have guessed what would soon follow after her arrival in Iran.

'After some meetings, not only did they agree to let me into the arena, I was asked to hold the USA sign and march in the opening ceremonies. That's when it hit me that I was the only woman in this arena of way over 5,000 men,' Kelley said.

Kelley's time in Iran after that was one of continuously breaking new ground, a pioneer via wrestling diplomacy. Not only were other women allowed in the next day, Kelley was invited to stay for a week beyond when her team left.

Despite making groundbreaking history for not only the sport of wrestling but Iranian culture as a whole, Kelley now fears the progress the wrestling world has made in promoting peaceful exchanges could be harmed due to the ban.

'All the work that went into the exchange and the progress we have made could be wiped out. My hope is that because of the goodwill that we have established with Iran, and because they know me, our team and our hearts, that we will still able to get visas and continue the goodwill via sports diplomacy,' Kelley said.

The sport that once looked death in the face now is suddenly on a slippery slope as the fate of the sport at the international level may now lie in the hands of global politicians.

'Our team (United States) benefits greatly from Iran in wrestling, and our country benefits greatly from Iranian-American contributions. Diplomatically, this travel ban is seen as a slap in the face to the countries named and I fear that major damage could result from this.' Kelley said. 'Which is unnecessary and frankly, sad.'