#UWWAwards2022

Amouzad, Elor, Nazaryan Tabbed as UWW's Rising Stars of 2022

By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 22) -- Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI), Amit ELOR (USA) and Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) had outstanding results in 2022 and have been named United World Wrestling’s Rising Stars of the Year.

Amouzad, at just 20 years old, won golds at the Asian and World Championships this season and scored incredible 2022 wins over veterans Bajrang PUNIA & Haji ALIYEV (AZE), before closing out his near-perfect World Championships with a win over Yianni Diakomihalis (USA) in the final to capture the 65kg gold.

Elor had a phenomenal season, becoming the first American to win three world titles in a single season.

The 19-year-old won U20 world gold in August and a senior-level world title in September, before capping off a historic year with a U23 world title in October, joining a rare list of wrestlers who won gold medals at every World Championships.

In Greco-Roman, Nazaryan extended his family tradition of excelling on the big stage.

Just 20 years old, the Bulgarian reached the European and World Championships finals this year and made it clear that he is ready for the big stage at such a young age.

His runs include wins over Olympic silver Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN), and European foes Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) and Erik TORBA (HUN).

While he fell short of crossing the final hurdle at both tournaments, Nazaryan has put his name in the hat at 60kg for the coming future.

#development

Dominican Republic hosts flawless More Than Medals 2024 camp

By United World Wrestling Press

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (August 3) — The Dominican Olympic Sports Center was the epicenter of a transformative experience for athletes and coaches. More Than Medals 2024 exceeded expectations, offering a comprehensive program that combined sports development with personal growth and community action.

For seven days, 13 countries and 32 wrestlers were immersed in an environment of learning and camaraderie. Top-notch facilities allowed for high-performance training, while workshops on nutrition, sports psychology, injury prevention, and leadership provided valuable tools for the athletes' future.

The week was marked by a series of specialized clinics led by experts in various areas:

  • Applied Psychology in Sports (Lic. Rusbel Salomón)
  • Nutrition Applied to Weight Control Sports (Dr. Francisco Soto)
  • Doping Prevention (Dra. Laura Anabel Pinedo)
  • Sports Injury Prevention (Lic. Abel Caballero)

These sessions enriched the participants' knowledge and promoted the importance of holistic health in sports.

Training sessions were led by each national coach, allowing everyone to experience different countries' training styles and learn new methods.

A fun activity day was organized with the support of the Dominican Wrestling Federation, including sightseeing in the traditional Santo Domingo neighborhood.

The commitment to the community was evident in the inspiring beach cleanup day. Athletes and coaches worked side by side to preserve the environment, demonstrating that sport can catalyze positive change.

The Dominican Wrestling Federation played a crucial role as the event's main organizer, demonstrating exceptional commitment and efficiency in ensuring the program’s success. Their collaboration, alongside the support of the Dominican Olympic Committee, was instrumental in creating a memorable and impactful experience for all participants.

More Than Medals 2024 also left a lasting impact on the Dominican sports community. Through exchanging knowledge and promoting values such as respect, inclusion, and solidarity, the program strengthened local sports and laid the foundation for a more promising future.

As a flagship initiative of United World Wrestling, More Than Medals continues to showcase the power of sport to unite people and generate positive change. We look forward to future editions of this inspiring program and the continued success of its mission.