#UWWAwards

Bonne, Bacsi and Gray Named Comeback Athletes of the Year

Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 16:43 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 22) -- United World Wrestling named Yowls BONNE-RODRIGUEZ (CUB), Peter BACSI (HUN), and Adeline GRAY (USA) the 2018 Comeback Athletes of the Year.

In freestyle, Cuba’s Yowls Bonne-Rodriguez won his first world title just days before his 35th birthday. Bonne finally obtained the elusive world gold medal after three previous attempts, scoring come-from-behind wins in the quarterfinals and finals.

In the quarterfinals, Bonne trailed Iran’s Mohammadbagher YAKHKESHI by two points with five seconds left when he hit a four-point inside trip and stole the match, 10-8.

Then, in the finals, Bonne trailed Russia’s Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV  2-0 before scoring a massive five-point move, which ultimately catapulted him to the top of the podium with a 5-5 criteria win.

This was Bonne's third world medal, previously finishing up the 2014 and 2017 World Championships with bronze medals.

Peter Bacsi, the 35-year-old Hungarian, won his first world championship since 2014 earning himself this year's Greco-Roman Comeback Athlete of the Year.

Basci trailed Turkey’s Emrah KUS 3-0 in the 82kg gold medal bout but scored four unanswered points to give the host nation their first and only gold medal of the Budapest World Championships.

The 2018 World Championships were rumored to be Bacsi’s last, but after his surprise victory he didn't rule out the 2019 Astana World Championships, though he did confirm he will not be making a run for Hungary’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic team.

Adeline Gray (USA) was named the women’s wrestling Comeback Athlete of the Year after returning from a year absence to win her fourth world title.

The American’s impressive road to her fourth world title went through reigning Olympic champion Erica WIEBE (CAN), and reigning world champion, Yasmin ADAR (TUR).

In the semifinals, Gray edged Wiebe, 3-1, and wrapped up the gold-medal bout early with a 13-1 win over Adar, winning the gold medal in a weight class that featured eight previous world champions.

The next award to be released will be the Outstanding Performances of the Year, which will come out on Thursday.

#development

Algeria Hosts Successful UWW Level 1 Coaches Course

Friday, May 15, 2026 - 03:39 By United World Wrestling Press

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FOUKA, TIPAZA, Algeria (May 15) -- A United World Wrestling Level 1: Introduction to Coaching and Safety coaching course was successfully organized by the Algerian Wrestling Federation, UWW and Olympic Solidarity.

The five-day course was organized at the National Teams Training and Preparation Center in Fouka, Tipaza from May 7 to 11 and it brought together wrestling coaches from across Algeria in an atmosphere marked by discipline, professionalism, and a shared commitment to developing wrestling at both national and continental levels.

The course was conducted by international UWW experts Vincent AKA and Ahmed KHEDHRI, who delivered theoretical and practical sessions focused on modern coaching methodology, athlete safety, technical development, and the core principles of international wrestling training standards.

Algeria

Throughout the course, participants demonstrated remarkable engagement, collaboration, and enthusiasm. Coaches exchanged experiences, strengthened their technical knowledge, and reinforced their collective ambition to contribute to the long-term growth of Algerian wrestling.

The closing ceremony, highlighted by the presentation of certificates to all participants, reflected the success of the program and the strong educational momentum currently shaping wrestling development in Algeria.

During the course, several participants expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the quality of the training and the spirit of unity created throughout the event.

"This training was a true source of inspiration for all of us. Thanks to the professionalism, pedagogy, and expertise shared during the course, we experienced an unforgettable educational journey," said Fodil BOURAS SIDAHEMED on behalf of the group “Les Guerriers.”

Another participant, AK DJAHID, praised the atmosphere among the coaches, emphasizing “solidarity, respect, professionalism, and exemplary behavior throughout the entire course.”

UWW

The event also coincided with the official visit of Development Director of UWW Deqa NIAMKEY, who visited several wrestling development sites in Algeria and met with national sports authorities.

During her visit, Niamkey highlighted the impressive progress achieved by the Algerian Wrestling Federation in recent years and reaffirmed UWW’s support for the federation’s ambitious long-term development strategy, particularly its investment in youth wrestling and grassroots programs.