Wrestler discards medal in Olympic tantrum

BEIJING - Ara Abrahamian of Sweden threw away the bronze medal he won in the 84kg greco-roman wrestling tournament in an Olympic sized tantrum the London Telegraph is reporting.

Abrahamian took the medal from around his neck during the medal ceremony, stepped off the podium and dropped it in the middle of the mat before storming off.

Prior to the medal ceremony, the Swedish wrestler had to be restrained by teammates as a dispute erupted with judges over the decision in the semi-final bout with Andrea Minguzzi of Italy, who went on to take gold.

Abrahamian, who won silver at the Athens Olympics in 2004, shouted at the referee before going over to confront the judges the Telegraph is reporting.

The Swedish fans booed loudly as the judges left the arena.

“It’s all politics,” Swedish coach Leo Myllari told the Telegraph.

Myllari did not say if he intended to lodge a formal protest over the decision by the Swiss, Canadian and Cuban judges.

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