Turpal Bisultanov wins bronze medal at Olympic debut after securing Danish citizenship

Dressed in a red and white Danish national team jersey, Turpal Bisultanov lifts a Dutch training partner and slams him onto the mat. The Chechen-born wrestler is in the final stages of training ahead of the biggest tournament of his career, with just a split second passing before his opponent is thrown again. This training session took place in Denmark just weeks ago and concluded with a hug and a “thank you for the match.” This week, after countless hours on the mat, Bisultanov’s childhood dream was realized as he made his Olympic debut and secured a bronze medal.

For a long time, it seemed that his dream of competing in the Olympics might be blocked by the lack of Danish citizenship. Bisultanov passed his citizenship test in 2022 and faced a grueling 22-month wait for his application to be processed, a delay that could have derailed his career. “It would have meant I couldn’t compete internationally or qualify for the Olympics,” he shared.

With the assistance of legal support from the Danish Sports Federation, Bisultanov managed to reduce his processing time by 14 months thanks to a special exemption from a parliamentary committee. He finally received his citizenship and Danish passport last August.

Bisultanov is aware he expedited the process while many others struggle with long waits. “If the situation were different, I would have waited, as the rules say I should,” he commented.

The lengthy processing times have raised concerns among many, with average wait times now around 19 months, deemed “completely unreasonable” by legal experts. Proposals for reforms are becoming increasingly urgent, yet some political representatives defend the status quo, emphasizing the need to ensure all regulations are adhered to.