Wrestler of the Year

“Best Wrestler of the Year” Awarded to Taylor, Olli, and Bacsi

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - 16:58 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (January 1) – With the 2018 wrestling season officially at a close, United World Wrestling has awarded “Best Wrestler of the Year” honors to David TAYLOR (USA) in freestyle, Petra OLLI (FIN) in women’s wrestling, and Peter BACSI (HUN) in Greco-Roman.

The award was based on the number of ranking points each of the wrestlers attained over the course of the 2018 season. A majority of points were earned at the world and continental championships, with additional points earned at a number of style-specific Ranking Series tournaments around the world.

For their efforts, Taylor, Olli and Bacsi each received a 10,000 CHF prize from United World Wrestling.

Taylor, the 86kg world champion in freestyle finished the season with 112 total ranking points. In addition to his world title Taylor took gold at 2018 Senior Pan-American championships, the Ivan Yariguin (Ranking Event), and the Yasar Dogu (Ranking Event). Taylor didn’t lose a match all season.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to compete for the USA and represent the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club,” said Taylor. “I wouldn’t have been able to reach this point without my coaches, training partners, and the treigning lab. I’m honored to be the wrestler of the year and look forward to 2019!


Olli, the 62kg world champion in women’s wrestling finished the season with 110 points. The first-ever Finnish world champion in women’s wrestling, Olli also took gold at the 2018 Senior European championships and the Klippan Ladies Open (Ranking Event), as well as a silver at the Ziolkowski/Pytlasinski/Poland Open (Ranking Event).

"I am very grateful and surprised to get such a great honor of recognition,” said Olli. “Wrestlers of the Year is a recognition means a lot of our team who works with me every day, but also for all of the Finland wrestling family.”


Bacsi, the 82kg world champion in Greco-Roman finished the season with 82 ranking points. In addition to his world title, the Hungarian wrestler also the gold medalist at the Granma y Cerro Pelado (Ranking Event) and silver at the Hungarian Grand Prix (Ranking Event).

At 35 years old, Bacsi was also this year’s oldest world champion in any wrestling style.


The 2019 United World Wrestling season will start on January 24th at the Ivan Yariguin Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk, Russia with Ranking Series points up for grabs in freestyle and women’s wrestling.

#WrestleBratislava

Adar, the woman of firsts in Turkiye wrestling, retires

Friday, April 11, 2025 - 09:17 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 10) -- Turkiye's first-ever Olympic medalist, first-ever world and European champion in Women's Wrestling, Yasemin ADAR (TUR)retired Thursday after 16 years of international wrestling.

A winner of seven gold medals at the European Championships did not have a fairytale ending as she lost the 76kg final against Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) on Thursday at the European Championships in Bratislava.

Despite the loss, Adar undoubtedly retires the trailblazer in Women's Wrestling for Turkiye. In 2016, she won her first European title to create history before adding the world title in 2017. In 2021, she became the first Turkish wrestler in Women's Wrestling to win the bronze medal when she pinned Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) to claim the medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

"I had an incredible career in the 76kg category," Adar said after the European Championships final. "I had many successes and many firsts. I became a two-time world champion. I was at the Olympics with bronze medal. So I have an incredibly beautiful career and I am proud of myself. I can't believe it. It's very difficult to describe. I am very emotional today."

Adar, who had tears in her eyes while was taking off her shoes on the mat to mark her retirement, is aptly called the "woman of firsts" in Türkiye. With her teammates and family in the stands cheering for her, the final match became even more emotional for Adar.

"I finished my wrestling and believe me it was not easy at all," she said. "I even rehearsed it many times before coming here. I said this is where I will finish my career. In my speech, I always wanted to be considered as the legend of 76kilograms. This match was more nervous for me. I had planned it beforehand, I knew that this match was the last match. Even though I couldn't earn the gold medal, I ended it with silver. But believe me, there are really great successes in my career."

On how she came to the decision of retiring at the European Championships, Adar was clear that she wanted to pass on the baton to the younger generation.

"Even if you don't want it, wrestling starts to leave you," she said. "Although there are those who say I am very good, I try to compare it to a situation like this. I am 34-years-old with an 18-year-old athlete and unfortunately we cannot have the same performance."