Award Season

2017 Men's Freestyle Matches of the Year

Friday, December 29, 2017 - 15:13 By Eric Olanowski

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The top three freestyle matches of 2017 include four Olympic champions who have acquired a combined eight world championships.

97kg World Championship GOLD:  Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) v. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)
The 97kg world final was arguably the most anticipated match-up of all time. The stage was set for two-time world champion and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) to take on two-time world champion and Olympic champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS). In addition to the individual title, the winner of the 97kg final determined the team race, as the USA and Russia were tied with 53 points. apiece.

Snyder’s takedown with 25 seconds left sealed the 97kg title, also clinching the United States’ first team title since 1995.

125kg World Championship GOLD:  Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) v. Taha AKGUL (TUR)
In the 125kg world finals, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) fell behind 4-0 to two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Taha AKGUL (TUR). Petriashvili went on to score eight unanswered points and took an 8-4 lead. Akgul regained the lead on criteria by putting together a stretch of four points. Petriashvili’s takedown with 25 seconds left gave him the 10-8 victory and his first world title.

61kg European Championship GOLD: Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) v. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS)
After two scoreless minutes, it was Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) who struck first, picking up a monstrous five-point throw. 2016 Olympic champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI’s (GEO) takedown and gut gave him the first lead of the match. Each wrestler would tack on an additional takedown, ending the match 10-9 in favor of Khinchegashvili.                                                         

UWW Lifts Restrictions on Belarus, Russia Wrestlers

Friday, May 15, 2026 - 03:02 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 15) -- United World Wrestling will allow Belarusian and Russian wrestlers to compete without restrictions at upcoming UWW competitions with immediate effect.

Under the updated participation guidelines, wrestlers from Belarus and Russia will compete under their respective national flags at all age-group levels, including senior. Athlete and staff uniforms may now bear the country initials “RUS” and “BLR,” while the national anthems of both countries will be played during medal ceremonies at UWW events if their wrestlers win gold medals or a team wins a championship.

All other standard UWW competition protocols will remain in effect in accordance with international wrestling rules.

In January, UWW had approved the participation of all wrestlers from the two countries up to the U23 age-group level under their respective national flags following an IOC recommendation that youth athletes holding Belarusian or Russian passports should no longer face restrictions on participation in sports events, including team competitions.

UWW first issued a statement on the geopolitical situation surrounding Ukraine in March 2022 and aligned with measures recommended by the IOC. At the time, UWW decided that wrestlers and officials belonging to affiliated and associated federations in Belarus and Russia would not be invited or allowed to participate in international competitions on the UWW calendar.

In April 2023, UWW formed an independent panel to verify the eligibility of wrestlers from Belarus and Russia based on the IOC’s recommended conditions of participation. At the same time, UWW approved wrestlers in the U15 and U17 age categories to compete as neutral athletes in international competitions.

UWW issued another update to the eligibility criteria for Belarusian and Russian wrestlers in September 2024. In February 2025, UWW announced that all eligible wrestlers from Belarus and Russia would compete under the UWW flag, removing the “Individual Neutral Athletes” designation. However, UWW did not authorize the use of national anthems or references to the flags, symbols, or coats of arms of Belarus and Russia.