#Trnava2018

Bey Likes Odds to Repeat as World Champion

Sunday, September 16, 2018 - 21:32 By Eric Olanowski

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TRNAVA, Slovakia (September 16) – For reigning world champion Kamal BEY (USA) to replicate his 2017 run to Junior World gold, he’ll have to navigate a bracket that returns every medalist from the 74kg Tampere World Championships. 

Bey, along with runner-up Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and bronze medalist Nasir HASANOV (AZE) drew into the bottom half of the bracket, while Sajan SAJAN (IND), the other bronze medalist, drew into the top half of the bracket. 

The way the draw played out, a potential Tampere World finals rematch between Bey and Makhmudov could happen as early as Monday night (18:00 local time). 


Kamal BEY (USA) and Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) after the 2017 74kg gold-medal bout at the Tampere World Championships. (Photo by Marion Stein) 

When Bey was asked about the potential semifinal challenge of facing Makhmudov again, he said “It’s not that much of a challenge. People always want to challenge me, and I accept that challenge. He’s only bumping up for this tournament; then he’s going back down to 72kg for the Senior World Championships. …I’m in this for the long haul, and he’s just in this for one match.” 

He added, “This year, it’ll be about keeping the same pace and mentality, while not giving up as many points.” 

Whether it’s Makhudov, Hasanov, Sajan or the field, Bey feels that the improvements he's made over the last year have put himself in position to beat anyone on his way to repeating as Junior World champion. 

“Being a World champion is never given. Whoever stands in your way, you have to beat them regardless. It just about me going out there and taking care of my business.” 

Bey, along with the other returning medalists kick off the opening round of the 2018 Junior World Championships on Monday morning at 10:30 AM (local time). 

#WrestlePontevedra

Wrestling legend Medved, three-time Olympic champion, passes away aged 86

Monday, September 2, 2024 - 09:36 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 2) -- Aleksandr MEDVED, the most successful Freestyle wrestler with 10 Olympic and World Championships gold medals, died on Monday aged 86 years.

Medved made his international debut at the 1961 World Championships, where he won bronze in the 87kg weight class. A year later, he jumped to 97kg and won the gold medal at the World Championships.

Barring 1965, Medved won all the World Championships gold medals from 1962 to 1971, majorly competing in the +100kg. He was considered small for the weight class, yet he dominated it for more than a decade.

Apart from winning seven gold medals, Medved also won a silver medal (1965) and a bronze medal (1961) at the World Championships.

Aleksandr MEDVEDAleksandr  MEDVED as a referee in a wrestling bout. (Photo: IMAGO / ITAR-TASS)

"The passing of Aleksandr saddens us," United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC said. "He was an ambassador of our sport and his achievements show that the world regarded him as the best."

"It's a great loss to the wrestling world and we are with the Medved family in this time of grief."

Medved won his first Olympic gold medal in 1964 at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the 97kg weight class. He repeated as the Olympic champion in the +97kg at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, beating Osman DURALIEV (BUL). The two met in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games in the +100kg final and Medved defeated Duraliev again to win his third Olympic gold medal.

He also has three European Championships titles as well.

After retiring from the sport, Medved was actively involved in coaching. He was inducted into the UWW Hall of Fame in 2003.

United World Wrestling expresses its condolences to the Medved family.