Advertisement

Olympic gold winning wrestler celebrating 50th birthday takes on seven police in DUI stop

A Ukrainian Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler was filmed taking on seven police officers at once when he was pulled over for alleged drink driving on his 50th birthday.

Vyacheslav Oliynyk took home the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but the recording of his arrest proves neither his skills nor audacity has waned after two decades.

The wrestler Vyacheslav Oliynyk takes a blow of pepper spray and police baton to the face. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda
The wrestler Vyacheslav Oliynyk takes a blow of pepper spray and police baton to the face. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda
The blow opens a crack in his head. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda
The blow opens a crack in his head. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda

When police stopped Oliynyk on Friday in Kiev, the wrestler got out of the 4WD he left in the middle of the three-lane road to address police, Ukranian Pravda reports.

An argument with an officer escalated as Oliynyk's son watched from the passenger seat.

Battered, Oliynyk tries to reason with police. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda
Battered, Oliynyk tries to reason with police. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda
But then he takes a swing at once officer. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda
But then he takes a swing at once officer. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda


Oliynyk challenged two officers before he was maced with spray and hit on the head with a club, the latter cracking open his skull.

A crowd of people gathered where the man, celebrating his half-century, stood in the street with blood streaming from his forehead.

Armed with batons and pepper spray, the police surrounded the wrestler who fought back at first with some Olympic-gold manoeuvrers - but when he threw a punch at one officer, police hit back.

The wrestler was quickly overwhelmed after taking a battering of pepper spray and billy clubs to the body.

Police swarm and club him. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda
Police swarm and club him. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda

Oliynyk stood his ground against the seven officers, but he was soon floored beneath the swarm of cops.

"I'm partly guilty because I did not stop and I was ignoring the police," Oliynik said after Friday's arrest.

But his wrestling moves were no match for the power of numbers. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda
But his wrestling moves were no match for the power of numbers. Source: Road Control/Ukranian Pravda

"But I am not a criminal. As far as I can see there will be a court hearing and they will punish me somehow because they always do."

"However the fact that police let me go home on the same day shows I didn't do anything that bad."

RELATED VIDEO: