Mongolian wrestling coaches found a new and creative way to protest controversial officiating after their athlete, Ganzorigiin Mandakhnaran, lost in the men’s freestyle 65k bronze medal match to Uzbekistan’s Ikhtiyor Navruzov.
They took off their clothes.
The Washington Post’s Adam Kilgore documented the madness on his Twitter feed:
This is something: A Mongolian coach ripped off his shirt and shoes after an incredibly shady last-minute decision gave bronze to an Uzbek.
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) August 21, 2016
And now the other Mongolian coach took his pants off. They are refusing to leave the mat. This is incredible.
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) August 21, 2016
The crowd is chanting, "Mon-go-lia!" as both coaches refuse to leave the mat, one shirtless and one stripped to his underwear.
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) August 21, 2016
Brazilian national police had to escort both Mongolia coaches off. The one put his pants back on. Both shirtless. And the crowd goes wild.
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) August 21, 2016
MORE: 21 historic performances from the Rio Olympics
It may have played well with the crowd in Rio, but count us among those who hope this isn't the start of a trend. The last thing we need is say, Andy Reid, disputing a pass interference call in such a manner.