#Lima2019

Conder Wins Second Pan Am Games in First Day of Women’s Freestyle

Friday, August 9, 2019 - 03:48 By Taylor Miller

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LIMA, Peru - Whitney CONDER (USA) picked up her second Pan American Games title, defeating Lianna MONTERO HERRERA (CUB) in the 50 kg final of the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

The American tallied the 10-2 win, using her counter offense to propel her to victory over Montero, a 2019 Pan Am Championships gold medalist.

The 2015 Pan Am Games champ, Conder is also a three-time Pan American Championships finalist, claiming gold in 2018.

Also winning gold for USA was Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), a 2018 World silver medalist, who secured her first Pan Am Games title with a tech fall win in the 53 kg finals against Betzabeth ARGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN), who was a 2015 Pan Am Games bronze medalist.

Hildebrandt’s leg lace proved to be deadly as she turned Arguello four times after an early takedown for the 10-0 shutout. Hildebrandt also won the Pan American Championship earlier this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

At 57 kg, 2019 Pan Am champion and 2015 Pan Am Games bronze medalist Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) kept the USA from sweeping the gold medals as she held off 2008 Cadet Pan Am champion Jenna BURKERT (USA) for a 2-1 victory.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, Antes scored two step outs in the second period for the Pan Am Games title.

Countries taking home bronze medals included Peru, Colombia, Cuba, Canada, Puerto Rico and Brazil.

Women’s freestyle action wraps up on Friday with 62 kg, 68 kg and 76 kg.

2019 PAN AMERICAN GAMES
at Lima, Peru

Women’s freestyle finals

50 kg
GOLD - Whitney CONDER (USA) df. Yusneylis GUZMÁN LÓPEZ (CUB), 10-2
BRONZE - Thalia MALLQUI PECHE (PER) df. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), 3-1
BRONZE - Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL) df. Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA), 5-1

53 kg
GOLD - Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Betzabeth ARGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN), 10-0
BRONZE - Lianna MONTERO HERRERA (CUB) df. Justina BENITES VASQUEZ (PER), 11-0
BRONZE - Jade PARSONS (CAN) df. Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 6-3

57 kg
GOLD - Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) df. Jenna BURKERT (USA), 2-1
BRONZE - Nes RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR) df. Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX), 4-3
BRONZE - Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Paula RAMIREZ (NCA), fall 1:27

#UWWAwards

UWW History Makers of 2025: Kougioumtsidis, Reasco, Sultangali

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:29 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 22) -- United World Wrestling has announced the History Makers of the Year 2025. The performance of these three wrestlers transcended competition and produced a once-in-a-generation accomplishment.

Freestyle’s History Maker 2025: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)

If there’s one nation that’s draped in sports tradition, it’s Greece, but surprisingly enough, the nation had never produced a male wrestling world champion.

Prior to 2025, wrestlers from Greece were 0-3 in gold-medal matches and had not reached a world finals since 1991. Then came 23-year-old Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS who stunned the world by defeating Levi HAINES (USA) 3-2 in the 79kg final to become his nation’s first-ever world champion.

Up until Kougioumtsidis' victory, Georgios ATHANASSIADIS (GRE) lost both of his world finals matches and Iraklis DESKOULIDIS (GRE) lost the final in 1991. The lone Greek woman to ever step to the top of the medal podium at the World Championships was Sofia POUMPOURIDOU (GRE), who won the women's 51kg gold on home soil in 2002.

"I'm very lucky that I am Greek," Kougioumtsidis said. "So I feel like I made all Greeks proud. I am Greek and I love my country." He continued, saying, “I'm the first male [from Greece] who won a gold medal at the World Championships. It's my dream come true. I think this year is a good achievement. I achieved my goal."

Women’s Wrestling History Maker: Genesis REASCO (ECU)

Reasco made history by becoming Ecuador's first-ever world champion, which came two years following Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) silver-medal finish at the 2023 World Championships where she still become the Ecuador's first-ever world medalist.

Reasco reached the pinnacle of the sport with a 4-2 victory in the 76kg final over two-time world medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), which came one match removed from knocking off Paris bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN (CUB) in the semifinals.

"I went in, gave my all, and it worked," Reasco said. "That’s how the gold medal was achieved, because honestly, I have a lot of respect for all my opponents. They gave everything out there on the mat, and they were really good matches -- both yesterday’s and today’s. Everything was very tough, very close."

Greco-Roman’s History Maker: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ)

Sultangali ended a 26-year Greco-Roman drought, giving Kazakhstan their first Greco world champion since 1999 with a very quick victory over Uzbek youngster Alisher GANIEV (UZB) in the 60kg finals at the World Championships.

Sultangali, who won two world bronze medals between 2018 and 2022, only needed 1:07 to cap off masterful first-period 9-0 win over Asian runner-up GANIEV (UZB).

"I didn’t plan to win the final match so easily and quickly," Sultangali said. "But it happened. Today is a historic day for our country because the last gold medal for Kazakhstan came in 1999, 26 years ago," said Sultangali, "I am happy that my country is happy."