Author Photo
Vinesh Phogat
(getty)

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024 final of the women's 50kg freestyle event for being overweight. Phogat played three rounds on Tuesday, winning all three to become the first woman wrestler to qualify for the final in the said event.

However, Vinesh's, and the whole of India's dreams were shattered on Wednesday morning, as the Olympic Federation deemed the Indian wrestler as overweight. Before the final bout of the competition, the 29-year-old was declared overweight by the barest of margins - 100 grams. 

That being said, Phogat is not the first athlete to be disqualified for being overweight. She was earlier disqualified from the Rio Olympics 2016's Asian qualifiers for the 48 Kg category for being overweight. 

The Sporting News goes back in history to talk more about more instances from the past. 

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Which candidates were disqualified from the Olympics for being overweight?

Emanuela Liuzzi

Italy's Emanuela Liuzzi was disqualified from the ongoing Paris Olympics after she was found overweight. Liuzzi, who competed in the Wrestling 50Kg freestyle category, was a wild-card entry at the Olympics following the withdrawal of her North Korean counterpart Kim Sonhyang, competing in the same category. 

Messaoud Redouane Dris

Algerian Judoka, Messaoud Redouane, stood disqualified from the Judo event in the ongoing Paris Olympics. Redouane was found overweight by 400 grams and was not allowed to compete for her bout against Israel's Tohur Butbul.

J'den Cox

The USA's J'den Cox, who was crowned with a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, failed to make it to the 97 kg category in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He was declared overweight, and subsequently, was qualified.

MORE: India vs Spain Olympic bronze medal match: Date, time, schedule 

List of candidates disqualified from Olympics for being overweight

CandidateCountryEventCategory
Emanuela Liuzzi Italy2024 Paris OlympicsWrestling - 50Kg freestyle
Messaoud Redouane DrisAlgeria2024 Paris OlympicsJudo
J'den CoxUnited States of America2021 Tokyo OlympicsWrestling - 97Kg Freestyle

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Author(s)
Mohit Khakhar Photo

Mohit Khakhar is a content producer for The Sporting News India.