#kaspeuro2018

Live Notebook - European Championships (Day Three)

Wednesday, May 2, 2018 - 09:02 By Eric Olanowski

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1:20 PM - That'll do it for the morning session on Day 3. We'll be back at 5:15 PM (local time) for the women's wrestling semifinals and the Greco-Roman finals. 

1:08 PM -  Ainztane GORRIA GONI (ESP) scores an early takedown and takes the 2-0 lead on 2017 silver medalist, Emilia Alina VUC (ROU). Vuc immediately comes up to her feet, hits a headlock and picks up the fall with just over a minute gone in the first period. 

12:52 PM -  Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), U23 world champion trails Oksana LIVACH (UKR), 4-0 after the first minute of wrestling. Demirhan closed out the first period with three takedowns and takes the 6-5 lead into the second period. Livach headlocks Demirhan to her back and takes the 9-8 lead, but a late takedown for the Turk gives her the 10-9 victory. 

12:35 PM -  Mariya STADNIK (AZE), seven-time Euro champion is making her way to Mat C. Stadnik picks up back-to-back technical superiority victories. The second 10-0 victory came against Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) in just under three minutes. 

12:26 PM - Yasemin Adar, 2017 world champion leads 2015 world bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST), 4-0 after a feet to back single leg. Adar starts the second period with another thunderous four-point throw to take the 8-0 lead. Her snap-down-spin-behind gives her the 10-0 technical superiority victory. 

12:16 PM - Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), 2017 world bronze medalist is making her way to Mat C. Larroque's takedown in the first period gives her the 2-0 over Monika MICHALIK (POL) heading into the second period.  

12:09 PM - 50kg WW - Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) picks up the first fall of the day over Fatme MANDEVA (BUL). The Russian had a commanding 6-0  lead before throwing the Bulgarian to her back for the fall. 

12:00 PM - Yasemin ADAR (TUR)  2017 world champion and Olympic silver medalist, Mariya STADNIK (AZE) will be headlining the third day of wrestling. Stadnik has never suffered a defeat at a European Championship will be looking for her eighth European gold medal. 

Start of action
11:00 AM -  Qualification rounds for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
11:00 AM - Repechage for GR 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg

 

#WrestleBratislava

On 14th attempt, Prevolaraki wins historic European gold for Greece

Friday, April 11, 2025 - 22:47 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 11) -- Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) made her first trip to the European Championships in 2011 when she was 19 years old. She competed in 14 European Championships and returned home with eight medals -- four silvers and four bronzes -- over the last 13 years.

Now 33 and competing at her 14th European Championships, Prevolaraki won her first gold medal with a thrilling win over Andreea ANA (ROU), ending a 24-year wait for Greece to have a champion in Women's Wrestling at the continental event. Former world champion Sofia POUMPOURIDOU (GRE) was the last and only other European champion for Greece in Women's Wrestling.

"I am very happy that I managed to earn the gold medal," Prevolaraki said. "I was waiting so many years to be the European champion and I am 33 years old but I managed to do it."

Over the years, Prevolaraki has lost four finals, all to different opponents. But Friday, she managed to keep her composure in a close bout for the win.

"This time I am more experienced and I did not feel any pressure," she said.  I played freely and good things happen when you have no pressure."

Wrestling in Bratislava in the 53kg weight class, Prevolaraki was hit with passivity first and put on the 30-second clock which expired without Prevolaraki scoring to give Ana 1-0 lead.

Ana extended her lead to 3-0 when Prevolaraki tried to hit a cut-back but was unsuccessful in the move. With more than two minutes remaining, Ana tried defending her 3-0 lead but was put on the activity clock when 1:10 were left.

During the 30-second period, Prevolaraki went for the leg-attack but Ana moved and tried getting behind Prevolaraki which she almost did and tried throwing the Greek with a cradle. But Prevolaraki was alerted and did not land in danger and scored a takedown. The activity clock against Ana expired which added another point for Prevolaraki, making the score 3-3 with the Greece wrestler leading on criteria of last point scored.

Romania decided to challenge, a strategic one. Even a lost challenge would need Ana to score a point to win from 4-3 with Prevolaraki lead and 3-3 with criteria to Prevolaraki.

On review, Romania lost the challenge and Prevolaraki led 4-3. Ana hit a sweep single and tried forcing Prevolaraki out of bounds but the Greece wrestler turned it around to get Ana's head out first and get another point to lead 5-3 which she defended and won the gold medal.

Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) at the medal ceremony of the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"I think I have had a good career," she said. "I am sad that I don't have an Olympic medal but I have many European medals and world Championships medals."

Prevolaraki, a four-time Olympian, a rare feat in wrestling, paid tribute to three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar SAITIEV, by wearing a shirt with his photo and message. Saitiev had passed away in March at the age of 49 years.

"The legend [Saitiev] is for all wrestler all over the world and his legend has no bounds. I wanted to pay a tribute to this legend," she said.