Beach wrestling

Six Tips for Watching Beach Wrestling

By Marc Berman

SARIGERME, Turkey (October 6th and 7th) -- Beach Wrestling is known for being a fast paced and exciting style, it is always a favorite amongst competitors. On the line this weekend is a world champion title and qualification to the 2019 Beach Games in San Diego next summer. Here is a quick guide to better understand the action when it hits the beach this weekend.

  1. The competition takes place in a 7-meter circle of sand
     
  2. Bracketing is determined by the athletes drawing lots to determine their position in the bracket
     
  3. The match is 1 period of 3 minutes for all divisions
     
  4. 1 point is awarded to a wrestler if they bring any part of the opponent’s body to the ground aside from the hands or if any part of the opponent’s body goes outside the competition area
     
  5. 2 points awarded when a wrestler manages to expose opponents back to the ground during a takedown
     
  6. 3 points wins the match. If there is a tie at the end of the match then the winner is decided by the highest value of holds, last point scored, weight of competitors (lighter taken the victory) or the lost number pulled during the drawing of lots.

Catch all the action live on United World Wrestling!

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Paris Olympic champ Hildebrandt announces retirement

By Vinay Siwach

COLRADO, United States (February 17) -- Olympic champion Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) has announced her retirement from wrestling.

The 31-year-old won gold in Women's Wrestling 50kg at the 2024 Paris Olympics and is also a bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics. At the World Championships, Hildebrandt won two silver (2018, 2021) and two bronze medals (2022, 2023).

Her decision was accompanied with an announcement from USA Wrestling that Hildebrandt will be joining as the assistant coach for Women's Wrestling with senior women's team.

“I have had a really long career and I’ve gotten the experience of what wrestling has taught me," Hildebrandt said. "It has made me so passionate about what this sport can do for people. If I can bring a passion and energy in support of their journey, kind of a door handle to open up their own adventure, that is exciting to me. Wrestling has given me so much. The sport has taught me everything about myself and helped me grow as a woman."

Hildebrandt made her debut at the U20 World Championships in 2010 at 55kg and remained a 53-55kg wrestler for long. At the 2019 World Championships, Hildebrandt failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics at 53kg and made the move to 50kg and qualified.

She went on to have one of most successful careers at 50kg, becoming the fourth Olympic champion for the United States in Women's Wrestling. She is only the second wrestler to win multiple medals at the Olympics for the U.S. after Helen MAROULIS (USA), who has three.

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