#kaspeuro2018

Stadnik Wins Eighth European C’Ship, Adar Gets Third

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - 19:01 By Eric Olanowski

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KASPIISK, Russia (May 3) - Mariya STADNIK (AZE) captured her eighth European title and reigning world championship, Yasmin ADAR (TUR) claimed her third crown.

Stadnik sealed up the gold medal by demolishing 2017 world finalist, Emilia VUC (ROU), 10-0. 

When asked what’s the difference between this win and the first seven, Stadnik said “When I won the first few European Championships, I used to get really stressed out prior to the tournament. Now, I remain pretty calm. That’s the difference.” 

Stadnik also beat Vuc earlier this year in the Klippan Lady Open finals. She said, “I met Vuc in the finals of the Klippan Lady Open so I knew about her skills and tendencies.” 

With Mother’s Day just over a week away, Stadnik, a mother of two stated “I dedicate this win to my children. I have to leave them so often to go train, and the compensation for me being gone so much is this gold medal.”

Yasmin ADAR (TUR), now a three-time champion gave Turkey their second gold medal of the day by combining her four-point arm spin with two takedowns to best Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS), 4-2. 
 

At 55kg, the difference in the bout came with two minutes remaining as Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) took down Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL) and immediately went into a gut wrench to controlled the 4-1 lead.  Zasina scored a passivity point with under 15 seconds left to cut Kurachkina’s lead to 4-2. 

Kurachkina suffered from a lapse of judgment while celebrating with one second remaining as she fell to her back with excitement. Zasina jumped on top of the Belarusian and scored a takedown, evening the score at four apiece. 

“I thought the match was over, but in reality, I almost lost the victory. I was in total shock when I saw the final two points on the board. I learned that I need to wrestle until the whistle is blown.” 

Though the score was tied, Kurachkina defeated Zasina, 4-4 on criteria. 

“This was always my dream to win a European title, and today my dream came true. But, the European gold is just one step of preparation for other important tournaments.” 

Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) cruised to the 6-4 victory over Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL) in the 59kg gold-medal bout. The Turkish wrestler’s two takedowns and gut wrench in the opening period were enough to brush off Hristova’s pair of second-period takedowns.

“After being off for two years due to a break and an injury, this is a dream come true…I learned not to give up. It doesn’t matter if you’re injured, you can still find positives.”  

Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) successfully defended her European title by avenging a loss from the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France to Koumba LARROQUE (FRA). 

Bratchikova picked up a takedown with 20 seconds left to break the 1-1 tie, ultimately winning 3-1. 

“I’ve met Koumba Larroque four times, and the only time I lost was in Paris at the 2017 World Championships. I’ve still haven't forgotten about that loss.” 

RESULTS
50kg
GOLD - Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Emilia Alina VUC (ROU), 10-0 

BRONZE – Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR), 4-2
BRONZE - Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Ainztane GORRIA GONI (ESP), 6-0 

55kg
GOLD - Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL), 4-4

BRONZE – Bediha GUN (TUR) df. Anna VOITOVA (UKR), 10-0 
BRONZE -Mariia GUROVA (RUS) df. Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL), 10-6

59kg 
GOLD - Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) df. Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL), 6-4. 

BRONZE – Tetiana OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. Katsiaryna YANUSHKEVICH (BLR), 12-2
BRONZE - Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) df. Emma JOHANSSON (SWE), via inj def. 

68kg
GOLD - Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS)df. Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), 3-1 

BRONZE – Martina KUENZ (AUT) df. Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU), 2-1
BRONZE - Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Monika MICHALIK (POL) 6-4

76kg
GOLD - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS), 8-2.

BRONZE – Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE) df.Iryna PASICHNYK (UKR), 6-3.
BRONZE - Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) df. Epp MAE (EST), 8-2. 

#WrestleTirana

Ukraine Wins Team Title after Record Gold Haul

Saturday, April 25, 2026 - 07:28 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 24) -- After three gold medals on Thursday, Ukraine added three more in Women's Wresting on Friday to win the team title at the European Championships in Tirana.

Two young stars in Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) and Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) and two-time Olympic medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) were the three champions for Ukraine. The six gold medals is record in the country's history, improving on last year's performance of four golds.

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It also won a silver and a bronze medals to finish with 193 points, well ahead of second-placed Turkiye which had 122 points. Poland finished third with 114 points.

"This performance for Ukraine was historic because we’ve never had a result like this before," Koliadenko said. "We’ve broken our previous record. Our previous record was seven finals and four golds. The team gave it their all. I’m so happy for the whole team."

Magdalena GLODEK LISZEWSKA (POL) won gold for Poland at 57kg while Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) earned at silver at 76kg which helped the country to third place. With the gold medal, Glodek became the first wrestler from Poland to win gold at European Championships in six years and first in Women's Wrestling in nine years.

The one remaining gold, at 62kg, was won by Grace BULLEN (NOR) in dramatic fashion, coming back from 9-0 down to pin Amina TANDELOVA (UWW).

Yefremova, 19, got the session to a good start for Ukraine with a win over 34-year-old defending champion Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in a tight 53kg final. Prevolaraki, who had won gold in 2025 on her 14th attempt, looked good to repeat when she got the first points on board in the final through Yefremova's passivity.

But in the second period, Yefremova used a fireman's carry to put Prevolaraki's back on the mat for two points. While she did not get the fall, Yefremova's 2-1 lead was enough for her to defend even as Prevolaraki made continuous attacks.

"Such intense emotions for me," Yefremova said. "I came here convinced I’d win a medal, but I didn’t think I’d make it to the final because I knew there were more experienced athletes here. But I still had a little bit of hope in myself that I could reach the final and win that gold. I didn’t think it would all turn out this way for me."

Yefremova, a former U17 world champion and U20 world silver medalist, was making waves in Women's Wrestling before being suspended for 18 months a positive dope test.

"I can’t say I’m particularly worried about the fact that the wrestlers are more experienced than me," she said. "I’m just used to forging ahead, regardless of the obstacles. I’ve got a goal, and I’m going for it. I don’t really have anything else on my mind."

Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR)Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) celebrates after winning the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Koliadenko earned her fourth European title without giving up a single point throughout the tournament, a fact that left even her surprised. After two technical superiority wins in the quarterfinal and semifinal, Koliadenko faced world silver medalist Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) in the 65kg final. She controlled the final throughout and forged a 9-0 victory.

"I hadn’t planned on finishing with a clean slate -- not losing a single point throughout this European Championship. It went quite smoothly for me," Koliadenko said.

The 27-year-old first wrestled at the European Championships in 2020, winning a bronze medal. Her gold medals came in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2026. In 2025, she finished with a bronze as well, taking her total medal count to six.

"I suppose experience does play a part, and over the years every competition becomes quite a challenge psychologically," she said. "Physically, you’re always prepared, but mentally it’s a bit tough. Especially given the rather uncomfortable situation in Ukraine at the moment and all of that affects our results."

Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR)Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) scores exposure points on Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) in the 72kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 72kg, U20 and U23 world champion Sokolovska found a way to beat Choluj despite trailing for four points. Choluj was put on activity clock but she used a double-leg attack during the 30-second period to score a takedown which was scored two points.

As the match progressed Choluj found it difficult to answer the pressure from Sokolovska who managed a go-behind to score her first point before getting two more for exposure in the same scramble to lead 4-2 with 1:34 remaining.

Choluj challenged the call but it was a takedown and a clear cradle with no foul. The lost challenge added one more point to Sokolovska's score. Choluj managed a stepout with 28 seconds left but failed to score a takedown in the remaining time which could have given her the criteria victory.

Sokolovska, trained by her Greco-Roman wrestler father, won the gold at her debut European Championships to cap off a memorable tournament for Ukraine.

Apart the these three, Oksana LIVACH (UKR), Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) were the other three champions for Ukraine in Tirana.

Glodek Ends Poland's Wait

Poland's gold medal winner Glodek who denied Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR), who finished with a silver medal for a second time in a row.

After both wrestlers exchanged passivity points, Suleyman led 1-1 on criteria as her point was the latest. But Glodek used a strong snapdown to score a quick takedown and lead 3-1.

Suleyman tried her best to score a match-winning takedown including an arm throw but landed on her own back to give two more points to Glodek who ended a six-year wait for Poland to have a European champion in wrestling.

For Poland, Maogmedmurad GAZHIEV (POL) had won gold in Freestyle in 2020 while Monika MICHALIK (POL) won gold in Women's Wrestling in 2017.

 

Photo

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), 2-1

BRONZE: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (UWW), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Annika WENDLE (GER) df. Roksana ZASINA (POL), via fall (2-3)

57kg
GOLD: Magdalena GLODEK LISZEWSKA (POL) df. Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR), 5-1

BRONZE: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df. Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (UWW), via fall
BRONZE: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Evelina HULTHEN (SWE), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW), via fall (5-9)

BRONZE: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) df. Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), 3-1
BRONZE: Naemi LEISTNER (GER) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 5-1

65kg
GOLD: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 9-0

BRONZE: Natalia KUBATY (POL) df. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), 11-6
BRONZE: Beyza AKKUS (TUR) df. Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE), 4-2

72kg
GOLD: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) df. Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), 5-3

BRONZE: Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) df. Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK), 3-0
BRONZE: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Karolina POK (HUN), 9-6