World Championships

Senior Athletes to Participate in Historic Training Camp Prior to World Championships

Tuesday, September 3, 2019 - 15:05 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article
Over 150 participants from 35 countries

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (September 3) -- United World Wrestling has announced it will host its largest-ever training camp prior to the 2019 Senior World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. 

The training camp will take place September 4-18 at the Olympic Cycling Centre in Saryarka. 

Over 150 participants from 35 countries have registered for the camp, which is being organized by UWW Development Department in collaboration with the Kazakhstan Wrestling Federation.

 

“With the athletes at the heart of the our technical assistance and development programmes, the UWW Development Team has worked hard to ensure all the athletes enjoy a proper acclimation camp prior to the World Championship” said President Nenad LALOVIC. “Arriving early in a country to train for the world championships is key to success and it’s even more important because these world championships qualify nations for next year’s Olympic Games.”

The United States, Cuba, Korea and several other nations are sending wrestlers to the training camp. Some notable training camp participants include Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), two-time world champion RYU Hansu (KOR), world No.2 Seunghak KIM (KOR), world silver medalist Adam COON (USA), world No.3 Minseok KIM (KOR) and world No. 4 Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU).

 

The 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships will begin Saturday, September 14 with Greco-Roman action. The event will feature 1000 wrestlers from 101 nations across 9 days of competition in Greco-Roman, women’s wrestling, and freestyle

#WrestleBratislava

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

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

Share this article

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.