Swedish Wrestler Throws Medal After Anger With Judging

In one of the most bizarre happenings of these spectacular 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic games, Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian tossed his bronze medal to the floor in the middle of the ceremony and walked out.

At this point, you're most definitely asking yourself one question, "Why?"

According to Abrahamian, it's pretty simple: politics.

In a semifinal bout against eventual gold medal winner Andrea Minguzzi of Italy, Abrahamian thought he had clearly defeated the Azzurri wrestler.

The problem was, the judges had awarded the Italian with a victory, and all hell broke loose thereafter.

Abrahamian was steaming mad, as anyone would have been in that situation, and even had to be restrained by teammates so he didn't injure any of the judges.

So, within one angry spell, Abrahamian, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist has quit the sport of wrestling.

He doesn't want a bronze, because he came to Beijing for the gold.

I have absolute mixed emotions about this, seeing as he probably should have won the match, according to experts.

On the other hand, isn't there a level of respect that should be upheld at the Olympic games?

After all, there is a reason that China's flag was lowered and the five-ring symbol was raised. It's about all of the nations coming together for a worldwide experience.

From Abrahamian's side, it's pretty hard to relate, but one thing is for sure: if I had trained up to six days a week for the past four years to lose because of "politics," I'd be ticked off, too.

While I can't say definitively if my reaction would have been so severe, it makes you realize just how competitive some of these athletes are.

In what has been easily the best Olympic games in my lifetime of 20 years, this puts a rather dark cloud on an otherwise Phoenix-esque sun parade.