Medical Conference

Registration Open for World Wrestling Medicine Conference and Team Physician Course

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (July 26) -- Registration is now open for the World Wrestling Medicine Conference and Team Physician Course, which will take place October 24-26 at the University of Physical Education in Budapest Hungary, before the start of the U23 World Championships.

The event is being organized by United World Wrestling, Hungarian Wrestling Federation and the University of Physical Education, Budapest. Szabolcs Molnár is the director of the event.

Nineteen speakers from a dozen different countries will present on a variety of topics, including wrestling injuries, injury prevention, corticosteroid injections, overtraining and fatigue syndrome, doping rule violations, medical examinations, skin conditions and much more.

Participants can register through Athena for the U23 World Championships and select the box "Attend Medical Conference." A 150 fee will be charged and includes transportation, transport, conference registration, lunch and coffee breaks, as well as certificates.

Participants who wish to attend without registering through Athena via their National Federation may fill out this form and send it to MedicalConference2019@unitedworldwrestling.org. A fee of 90€ per day for the participation in the conference will be invoiced to the applicant. The fee includes registration, conference material, lunch and coffee breaks, attendance certificate & training course certificates. Accommodation and transport are not included with the fee.

Rules and form for abstract submission:

Rules for Abstracts

Abstract Submission Form

Program Wrestling Medicine Conference

The deadline to register for the World Wrestling Medicine Conference and Team Physician Course is September 28.

Abstracts must be submitted by August 30, with the selection and announcement set for September 10.

For more information on the World Wrestling Medicine Conference and Team Physician Course, please contact MedicalConference2019@unitedworldwrestling.org.

 

 

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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."