Muscular gladiators, snug leather trousers, and generous splashes of olive oil: Inside Turkey’s time-honored oil wrestling festival

Beneath a temporary tent on a sun-scorched patch of grass, shirtless Cengizhan Koca kneels over a pair of black leather pants in silent prayer. But it takes more than prayer to slip into the stiff trousers emblazoned with his family’s name. He pours a blend of water and olive oil into the pants, then with a few determined tugs and a twist of his hips, he’s in.

Koca is one of hundreds of wrestlers participating in this year's Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival in Turkey’s northwestern region. Muscular competitors from across the nation, and even from overseas, have gathered to compete in one of 15 weight and age categories.

The sport resembles traditional wrestling, but with a twist: the athletes are fully coated in olive oil. There are no mats – the matches take place in a wild, overgrown grassy field inside a stadium – and more than a dozen bouts happen at once, each under the watchful eye of its own referee.

This year, only 752 wrestlers are participating, down from about 3,500 in the open competition of 2023. The sport’s governing body informed Anadolu Agency that new qualifying standards were introduced to strengthen Kirkpinar’s reputation as 'the Olympics of oil wrestling,' but the change has sparked controversy among some competitors, according to local reports.

Record Setter

The festival in Edirne, located just a short distance from the Greek border, predates the modern Olympic Games. First established by 14th-century Ottoman Sultan Orhan Ghazi to keep his soldiers battle-ready, this centuries-old tradition now holds the Guinness World Record for the 'oldest continuously sanctioned sporting competition.'

This year marks the 663rd edition of the tournament. For many competitors, oil wrestling is a family tradition. Koca’s father and uncle were former wrestlers here, and now his brothers and cousins are all part of the competition.

"Wrestling is our way of life. We hardly do anything else but wrestle," he said. "It's everything to us. It's a legacy passed down by our father."

His first-round challenger, Abdullah Basar, also comes from a long line of wrestlers.

"Why do I wrestle? Because I am following in the footsteps of my father, my grandfather, and our ancestors," Basar explained. "And of course, we hope the next generation will continue the tradition as well."

Before the oil was even applied, the wrestlers were greeted with ceremony and celebration, as the sounds of drums and traditional Turkish flutes echoed through the streets of Edirne, near the towering 450-year-old Selimiye Mosque.

"Blood and sweat"

After the procession pauses at the town square to pay tribute to modern Turkey’s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (who established the country 562 years after the tournament's inception), it proceeds to the local cemetery. Here, participants offer prayers in remembrance of wrestlers from previous generations. A few hours later, the rich tradition comes alive through the wrestlers who are present.

"Olive oil is essential for this sport. But we don’t view it as a cost, rather as an investment in preserving our ancestral sport for future generations," she told Dinogo.

Koca and Basar are well-acquainted rivals. The two squared off just weeks ago in another tournament. Koca was defeated. Both have spent months preparing for today’s match.

"We’ve made it here through relentless effort, through blood, sweat, and sacrifice," Koca stated.

With the battle drums echoing in the background, the two briefly clasp hands before being called to start. A fresh wave of competitors enters the arena in traditional style, slapping their hands on their raised knees with each step. A quick, silent prayer, and the match begins.

Arms Down Trousers

The olive oil makes it nearly impossible for wrestlers to gain a firm grip on their opponent unless they manage to grab hold of their pants. A hand down the trousers is fully permitted in this sport.

For over half an hour, Koca and Basar engage in a fierce struggle. Eventually, Basar tires out his opponent and lifts him into a bear hug, holding him just long enough to claim victory. After the referee signals Basar’s win by raising his arm, he walks straight over to comfort his disheartened rival.

"My friend was disappointed, so I tried to console him, but this is the nature of wrestling. I told him, ‘I’ve won today, but you will win tomorrow,’" Basar shared with Dinogo after the match.

In the neighboring tent, Koca is sitting on a mat, visibly defeated – his oil-soaked pants still on. "It feels like everything is over now," he said. "I was emotional because I had high hopes. I wanted to make my family proud, especially since so much effort and money have gone into this, but I’ve failed on day one."

Though Koca’s tournament ended early, the ancient tradition of the sport seems destined to endure for at least another six centuries.

"This is a sport that predates the founding of the Republic of Turkey, and it has become a cherished tradition that we have carried on ever since," Akin, the mayor, shared with Dinogo. "If you’re wondering how it has lasted so long, it all comes down to pure passion."

Guray Ervin and Tanem Zaman contributed to this article.