Everyone talks about legends champions GOATs all that jazz. And yeah Buvaisar Saitiev no doubt absolute monster. But there’s this other Saitiev brother Adam. The younger one. And if Buvaisar was like a main boss in a video game Adam was that hidden character you unlock after beating the game on ultra-hard mode. Just something else entirely.
People don’t watch wrestling like they used to I know I know. “Too slow,” “too technical,” whatever. But man back at the turn of the century when Adam was in his prime people knew. He wasn’t just good he was like unfairly good. Pure natural talent easy movement. Most of his career wrestled in the middleweight category and for years nobody could even touch him. Seriously. He made world-class guys look like first-timers. Dude left the mat ages ago but stories about his wins Still floating around whispered like urban legends.
So Adam he’s from Khasavyurt Dagestan. Big Chechen family third kid. Gets into wrestling when he’s six following his older brothers obviously. Where else would he go right Like if your elder brothers are hitting up the local Akhara what are you gonna do pick up a cricket bat Nah. So he ends up in this “training hall” – basically an abandoned car repair shop. One worn-out mat. That’s it. Snow rain whatever. And those guys they had to be at 6 AM standing in formation. My uncle he used to tell me how back in his village training was just… different. Like this one pahalwan proper old school he’d literally tie a rope to a buffalo and just run alongside it. For miles. No fancy gym no protein shakes that cost like ₹4,000. Just a buffalo a rope and pure unadulterated madness. Dunno if Saitiev did that probably had better facilities than some mud pit but that dedication it’s in their blood no?
Adam wasn’t a massive guy. Smaller then most of his opponents at first. But the hard work the discipline It just clicked. My internet connection is slower than a snail on tranquilizers today making it hard to even load these old wrestling clips. But when I watch Adam it wasn’t about raw power it was this insane fluidity like water slipping through your fingers. One second he’s there the next BAM! Opponent on his back eyes staring at the ceiling thinking “What just happened?” He just flowed. And that’s what made him stand out. When he first went to Krasnoyarsk some bigger guys were there stronger. But after a year or two Saitiev just kinda out-worked them. He *wanted* it different you know?
So 1997 Adam’s 20 first big shot at the Russian Championship 69kg. Competition was mental but he just bulldozed everyone. In the final he met this junior world champ Aslan Toma. Saitiev just dismantled him. Like took him apart piece by piece then put him on his back. Clean pin. After that he got to represent Russia at the Worlds right there in Krasnoyarsk. He was shining charming the home crowd with his crazy technique. But then he faced an Olympic medalist Elbrus Tedeyev. Lost by two points. No medal. Tough break but that’s wrestling eh One day you’re a god the next your looking for answers.
After that he’s like “Nah this weight cut is too much.” So he jumps to 74kg. And guess who’s already there His elder brother Buvaisar the current Olympic champ. Usually brothers don’t fight in the same category. But Buvaisar being the legend he is he steps aside. “My time’s done in this weight Adam’s better now” he pretty much said. Imagine that kinda bond. So Adam gets his shot. 1999 he dominates the Russian Championship again then the European Championship in Minsk then the Worlds in Ankara. He’s just piling up golds. In the Ankara final he faced Alexander Leipold a three-time world cup winner and Buvaisar’s main rival. Close fight but Adam pulls off this crazy counter-throw at the last second wins by two points. He didn’t just win a gold he kinda *defended* Buvaisar’s crown. Solid stuff.
Then 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Coaching staff’s got a headache which Saitiev brother fights at 74kg Adam takes a call. “I’ll jump to 85kg” he says. Just like that. Ten kilos underweight in a new category. Most people would be freaking out. Not him. He just wanted that Olympic ticket. And man he was small for 85kg but his brain and speed Next level. He beat Sajid Sajidov who later became a two-time world champ. Saitiev just pins him. In like two years he won national titles at 69kg 74kg and 85kg. Who even *does* that?
Sydney Olympics. He’s running through everyone. In the final he’s up against Yoel Romero who later became a beast in UFC. Romero looked like a giant next to Adam like they were in different weight classes. But Adam calm as ever elegant counter-attack scores four points. Romero gets one back but that’s it. Second period Adam hits another counter pins the Cuban giant. Olympic gold at 22! What a moment. Except… he wasn’t happy. Buvaisar his older brother lost surprisingly early in the tournament. Adam said his own gold felt meaningless without Buvaisar’s. That’s heavy man. That’s family.
After the Olympics he took a year off. Comes back wins another national title in 2002 then the World Championship beating Romero again in overtime. From 1999 to 2002 he didn’t lose a single fight. People were calling him the best pound-for-pound wrestler. He was unstoppable. But then injuries hit. Brutal ones. He couldn’t wrestle full strength. Lost his spot for the Athens Olympics. That’s the real pain of sports no The body just gives up on ya. My dad he used to tell me about his old wrestling days said he’d hum a weird low tune before every match. Said it calmed his mind. Sounds crazy but he swore by it. Made him win a few local tournaments. Maybe Adam needed some weird ritual too who knows.
Adam returned in 2006 won the Ivan Yarygin tournament – a massive deal. Then the European Championship. But injuries kept dogging him. He wanted to go for Beijing 2008 but a herniated disc. Nasty. Gone for three years. Then in 2012 everyone thought he was done. But he announces a comeback! Buvaisar had retired so Adam could finally wrestle at 74kg. He’s battling young dudes still winning. In the Russian Championship final he faced Denis Tsargush a two-time world champ ten years younger. Super tight match. Score was 0-0 till the last minute then Tsargush gets a point. Adam tried everything but came up short. Lost the Olympic spot. That was it.
He hung up his boots after that. Went back to Khasavyurt opened a wrestling school with his brother. Now he coaches. Still can’t imagine life without wrestling even if he says some people in the sport are just… well not great. Doesn’t seek fame doesn’t think his achievements are anything special. Says wrestling in Russia don’t get the respect it should. Just a quiet guy doing his thing still giving back to the sport he loved. A true legend not just for the medals but for how he lived it. What a career.