#OffTheMat

How'd Adar become Turkey's greatest women's wrestler ever?

By Eric Olanowski

COSIER-VEVEY (May 12) --- Yasemin ADAR (TUR) went #OffTheMat with United World Wrestling to talk about what it’s like being a history-making, barrier-breaking leader in women’s wrestling.

Adar discussed her introduction to the sport of wrestling and how it led to her becoming the most successful Turkish woman to ever lace up a pair of wrestling shoes. Her history-making feats include becoming the first woman from Turkey to win a medal at the Olympic Games (Tokyo), winning a gold medal at the World Championships (2017) and winning five European titles.

Adar also talked about the stress and pressure that comes along with her newly-appoint role as the Vice President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation.

Development

Big step in women’s wrestling leadership with new members in UWW Bureau

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (November 6) -- At the UWW 2024 Congress that took place in Tirana, Albania on the October 27, a historic milestone was achieved in women wrestling leadership.

There were seven female candidates for the UWW Bureau, the supreme body of wrestling, marking the highest-ever participation by women in the process.

Kuniko Tanioka (JPN), Annette Kure (NOR), Lise Legrand (FRA), Cholpon Sultanbekova (KGZ), Buyana Peljee (MGL), Nadine Pietschmann (SUI) and UWW Vice-President, Natalia Yariguina (RUS) took part in the race for the Bureau role.

This was the first time that Women Lead Sports alumni being elected to NF president positions and the highest registered female candidates for the Bureau in the history. Rodica Yaksi (TUR) was promoted to Vice-President and Ye Zhang (CHN) has two years left in her term.

A report on the progress made for women coaches and referees at the Paris Olympic Games through the various initiatives and programmes established by UWW Technical Assistance and Development Commission was shared with the national federations that attended the 2024 congress.

“From Tokyo to Paris, we made great strides to promote gender equality within our wrestling community. It is our duty to pave the way for our future generations for equal opportunities, no matter the gender, the religious beliefs, ethnicity, etc.,” UWW President Nenad Lalovic said. “We value and praise those who promote wrestling at all levels. We witnessed that by providing the right programmes and opportunities it strengthens our sport and our community worldwide.”