MOSCOW, November 7 (R-Sport) – The man who won Russia's first wrestling gold medal at the London Olympics has entered Army service, an official told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
Roman Vlasov won gold in the 74kg division, and now the 22-year-old Novosibirsk native considers it his duty to serve his country in the military, the official said.
Vlasov’s move is rare among Russia's youth, and was apparently influenced by three-time Olympic champion wrestler Alexander Karelin, who also served.
“I said: Roman, do you really want it?” Novosibirsk Region recruitment office Sergei Kharlamov told RIA Novosti. “He says: Of course, I need to serve, and [Alexander Karelin] told me that I should.”
The athlete filed an application last month requesting he be drafted, Kharlamov said.
Russia has a mandatory draft system where all able-bodied men aged 18 to 27 must do a 12-month stint. Draft-dodging is common practice, with potential recruits scared off by poor living conditions, low wages and systemic hazing.
Vlasov, who is also a reigning world champion in his category, will likely be based in the Novosibirsk or neighboring Tomsk region.
Russia won four wrestling golds in London.
Russian Olympic Champion Wrestler Conscripted
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Baranov
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The man who won Russia's first wrestling gold medal at the London Olympics has entered Army service, an official told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
