Wrestling’s Curby Cup next move in US-Iran sports diplomacy
An event founded in the memory of a young American wrestler provides a new pathway for advancing people-to-people ties between the United States and Iran.
American wrestler Jacob Curby died before he could fulfill his dream of competing in the Olympics. But a competition established in his name will mark another milestone in the accelerating sports diplomacy between Iran and the United States.
For the first time since the event was established shortly after Curby’s death in 2010, an Iranian team will be participating in the Jacob Curby Cup at Chicago State University on June 27.
In the past, the competition has attracted teams from less accomplished wrestling nations, Christina “Kiki” Kelley, team leader for USA Wrestling and a major supporter of the Curby Cup, told Al-Monitor. “Iran is No. 1 in the world for Greco-Roman so it’s a huge deal to get them.”
Unlike free-style wrestling, Greco-Roman involves only upper body holds and is considered more difficult and authentic in terms of the history of the sport, which goes back to ancient times. Wrestling is also hugely popular in Iran and has been a pathway in the past to reviving US-Iran people-to-people ties. In 1998, US wrestlers became the first US athletes to compete in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
