#panam2018

Pan-Am's, Euro's Wrap Sunday in Peru, Russia

By Tim Foley

LIMA (May 5) – United World Wrestling concludes a busy week of championship competition Sunday with the final day of wrestling at the Senior Pan-American and Senior European Championships in Lima and Kaspiysk, respectively.

The Pan-American Championships will host a full day of men’s freestyle wrestling competition with eight weight categories going start to finish, while the European Championships are slated for bronze and gold medal finals in their final five men’s freestyle categories.

The European finals are highlighted by the heavyweight showdown between 2016 Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) and 2017 world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). The 125kg finale will be a rematch of last year’s world finals won by Petriashvili, 10-8. Many wrestling fans consider the duo’s 2017 clash to be the greatest heavyweight wrestling match in history.
 

 

The Euro finals will also feature 2012 Olympic champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) facing 2016 Olympic champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS). Both won their titles at 86kg, but are now testing their strength at the new non-Olympic 92kg weight category.

Sunday’s European gold medal finals begin at 6pm local:

61kg: Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) vs. Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS)

74kg: Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) vs. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)

86kg: leksandr GOSTIYEV (AZE) vs. Artur NAIFONOV (RUS)

92kg: Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) vs. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)

125kg: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Taha AKGUL (TUR) 

 

The Pan-American Championships in Lima conclude Sunday with freestyle wrestling. Matches will be highlighted by a crop of top tier freestyle talent from powerhouse Cuba and defending world champion United States. Team USA will feature 2016 world champion Logan STIEBER (65kg), 2017 world silver medalist Thomas GILMAN (57kg) and 2017 world bronze medalist Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (125kg)

Wrestling in Lima begins at 10am CT

#development

Dominican Republic hosts flawless More Than Medals 2024 camp

By United World Wrestling Press

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (August 3) — The Dominican Olympic Sports Center was the epicenter of a transformative experience for athletes and coaches. More Than Medals 2024 exceeded expectations, offering a comprehensive program that combined sports development with personal growth and community action.

For seven days, 13 countries and 32 wrestlers were immersed in an environment of learning and camaraderie. Top-notch facilities allowed for high-performance training, while workshops on nutrition, sports psychology, injury prevention, and leadership provided valuable tools for the athletes' future.

The week was marked by a series of specialized clinics led by experts in various areas:

  • Applied Psychology in Sports (Lic. Rusbel Salomón)
  • Nutrition Applied to Weight Control Sports (Dr. Francisco Soto)
  • Doping Prevention (Dra. Laura Anabel Pinedo)
  • Sports Injury Prevention (Lic. Abel Caballero)

These sessions enriched the participants' knowledge and promoted the importance of holistic health in sports.

Training sessions were led by each national coach, allowing everyone to experience different countries' training styles and learn new methods.

A fun activity day was organized with the support of the Dominican Wrestling Federation, including sightseeing in the traditional Santo Domingo neighborhood.

The commitment to the community was evident in the inspiring beach cleanup day. Athletes and coaches worked side by side to preserve the environment, demonstrating that sport can catalyze positive change.

The Dominican Wrestling Federation played a crucial role as the event's main organizer, demonstrating exceptional commitment and efficiency in ensuring the program’s success. Their collaboration, alongside the support of the Dominican Olympic Committee, was instrumental in creating a memorable and impactful experience for all participants.

More Than Medals 2024 also left a lasting impact on the Dominican sports community. Through exchanging knowledge and promoting values such as respect, inclusion, and solidarity, the program strengthened local sports and laid the foundation for a more promising future.

As a flagship initiative of United World Wrestling, More Than Medals continues to showcase the power of sport to unite people and generate positive change. We look forward to future editions of this inspiring program and the continued success of its mission.