#Webinar

Refereeing Webinar Schedule for October 5-11

By United World Wrestling Press

Topic: Challenge Procedure / Consultation Procedure - Russian
Date: Thursday, 8 October
Time: 14:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 08:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Speaker: Noravard Arustamyan and Sergei Kovalenko
Language: Russian
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/91834816030

Topic: Challenge Procedure / Consultation Procedure - French
Date: Thursday, 8 October
Time: 16:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 10:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Speaker: Kamel Bouaziz
Language: French
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/98082812321

Topic: Challenge Procedure / Consultation Procedure - Spanish
Date: Thursday, 8 October
Time: 18:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 12:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Speaker: Carlos Garcia and Abraham Galva
Language: Spanish
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/93537272592

Webinaires liés à l’arbitrage

Thème: Procédure pour le challenge et la consultation - Russe
Date: Jeudi 8 octobre
Heure: 14:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 08:00 - New York (Vérifier votre heure locale)
Conférencier: Noravard Arustamyan et Sergei Kovalenko
Langue: Russe
Niveau: Arbitres nationaux et internationaux
Lien: https://zoom.us/j/91834816030

Thème: Procédure pour le challenge et la consultation - Français
Date: Jeudi 8 octobre
Heure: 16:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 10:00 - New York (Vérifier votre heure locale)
Conférencier: Kamel Bouaziz
Langue: Français
Niveau: Arbitres nationaux et internationaux
Lien: https://zoom.us/j/98082812321

Thème: Procédure pour le challenge et la consultation - Espagnole
Date: Jeudi 8 octobre
Heure: 18:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 12:00 - New York (Vérifier votre heure locale)
Conférencier: Carlos Garcia et Abraham Galva
Langue: Espagnole
Niveau: Arbitres nationaux et internationaux
Lien: https://zoom.us/j/93537272592

#UWWAwards

UWW History Makers of 2025: Kougioumtsidis, Reasco, Sultangali

By Eric Olanowski

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."