#WrestleSamokov

Russia Crowns Pair of Day Two Champs at Cadet Euro C’ships

By Eric Olanowski

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (June 15) --- The Russian Federation’s freestyle squad medaled in four of five weights and lead Armenia (70 points) by 23 points heading into Wednesday’s final day of freestyle action.

The four Russian medalists from Tuesday were Amal DZHANDUBAEV (48kg), Anzor MAZHIDOV (55kg), Marat FADZAEV (65kg) and Ilia ZHIBALOV (110kg). Dzhandubaev and Fadzaev claimed golds, while Zhibalov and Mazhidov finished in second and third, respectively.

Armenia sits in second place in the team race after the second day of wrestling in Bulgaria. Andranik AVETISYAN (ARM) scored four wins – including three technical superiority victories – en route to the 55kg gold medal. They also picked up bronze medals from Sargis BEGOYAN (48kg), Anushavan BARSEGHYAN (65kg) and Narek GRIGORYAN (80kg).

Outside of Russia (2) and Armenia (1), Ukraine and France also crowned a Cadet European champion today.

Oleksandr MAMROSH (UKR) stuck Tornike SAMKHARADZE (GEO) in the 80kg and won his second continental title. He also won continental gold at the ’19 U15 European Championships.

Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA) was the fifth and final wrestler to have his hand raised on Tuesday night. The French wrestler tallied an 11-1 Ilia ZHIBALOV (RUS) in the 110kg finals and improved on his bronze-medal finish from the ’19 U15 European C’ships.

Heading into Day Three, Georgia (63 points), Azerbaijan (52 points) and Ukraine (48 points) round of the top five in the team race.

Wrestling resumes tomorrow at 11:30 (local time) on www.uww.org.

RESULTS

48kg
Amal DZHANDUBAEV (RUS) df. Musa VERDIYEV (AZE)
Sargis BEGOYAN (ARM) df. Serdzhan Ashkanov YUSEINOV (BUL), 16 – 5
Vitalii HONCHAR (UKR) df. Victor ANDRIAN (MDA), 10-0

55kg
Andranik AVETISYAN (ARM) df. Tamazi SULAMANIDZE (GEO), 11-0 
Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) df. Herbert AKAPIAN (BLR), 8 - 2
Anzor MAZHIDOV (RUS) df. Subhan SAFARLI (AZE), 9-3

65kg
Marat FADZAEV (RUS) df. Ion Laurentiu MARCU (MDA), 8-6
Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO) df. Dyanko Petrov DYANKOV (BUL), 4 - 1
Anushavan BARSEGHYAN (ARM) df. Marcell NAGY (HUN), 8-6

80kg
Oleksandr MAMROSH (UKR) df. Tornike SAMKHARADZE (GEO), via fall
Narek GRIGORYAN (ARM) df. Sattarkhan ALLAHVERDILI (AZE), 4 - 1
Daniel FISCHER (GER) df. Gabriele NICCOLINI (ITA), 9-6

110kg
Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA) df. Ilia ZHIBALOV (RUS), 11-1
Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) df. Azay ISMAYILOV (AZE), via fall
Milan GELLEN (HUN) df. Ksawery Kacper KAMINSKI (POL), 4-0

#CanadaWrestling

Former world champion Di Stasio of Canada retires

By United World Wrestling Press

OTTAWA, Canada (March 13) -- After nearly 15 years of representing Canada, Justina DI STASIO (CAN) has decided to retire.

During her career, Di Stasio built an impressive resume that will go down as one of the all-time greats in Canadian wrestling history. The 32-year-old represented Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Di Stasio won gold medal at the World Championship in 2018, a Pan-American Games gold medal in 2019 and Commonwealth Games gold in 2022. In addition, she is a multiple-time Pan-Am Championships gold medalist.

While there have been many memorable moments, a few stood out to Di Stasio, including her start with the national team, her win at the 2018 worlds, being coached on the national team by two-time Olympic medalist Tonya VERBEEK (CAN), and making her first Olympics in 2024.

“Winning worlds was a special moment, especially because I could hear my parents cheering from the stands," Di Stasio said. "It reminded me of my tournaments as a kid. It also helped me frame everything in my life better. I realized it is about the journey and not the destination. It was amazing to feel the way I did on that one day, but it was only one day. I had worked so hard in the lead up, but I realized I had to enjoy those days too. I still wanted to be the best in the world and I never didn’t train like it, but from that point, I made sure to enjoy my wrestling every day.”

That love for the sport kept Di Stasio going despite setbacks that stalled her dream of competing at the Olympics. After failing to qualify for the Rio and Tokyo Games, Di Stasio qualified for Paris 2024, eventually finishing 12th.

“Making it to the Olympics came with lots of pressure, but good pressure. I had won everything else and trained every day thinking I could be an Olympic champion. Even though it was a heart-breaking result, I know I couldn’t have worked harder and that helped me accept the result. I would have loved to make it there when I was younger, but I think I needed to be more mature to handle the result.”

Read full news on Wrestling Canada Lutte website.