#Trnava2018

Steveson Still Improving After Three World Titles

By Eric Olanowski

TRNAVA, Slovakia (September 21) - It’s hard to believe that Gable STEVESON (USA) is still improving after winning three world titles, but he stood outside Trnava’s City Sports Hall and said it’s possible. 

“I’m stronger, quicker and my endurance is better than ever, but I’m still growing," said Steveson. “I look at myself as the second-place guy, and that’s how I’m approaching every practice. Even though I’ve reached the top, I still train like I’m behind somebody.” 

With two years of junior eligibility left, Steveson’s comes to Slovakia chasing his fourth age-level world title. 

No doubt that he enters the 2018 Junior World Championships with a target on his back and he knows it. “I love having the target on my back. A lot of people have tried to hit the target, but as of right now, everyone has missed.” 

Gable STEVESON (USA) carries the American flag after winning the 2017 junior world title. (Photo by Marion Stein) 

The 18-year-old will wrestle Saturday, with the potential to wrestle in Sunday night's 125kg gold-medal bout, in what may be his last age-level match ever. 

“I’m shooting for six (world titles), but with Tokyo 2020 right around the corner, I plan on bumping up to the senior-level next year and making USA's world team,” said Steveson. "I’m always looking ahead, and looking ahead means the 2020 Olympic Games. That’s a big goal for me, an Olympic gold." 

Ending, on Wednesday night, Steveson stood behind the entry tunnel and watched Russia’s Aleksanr KOMAROV win his fourth age-level world title. But that didn’t change Steveson’s mind as to who's the most dominant age-level wrestler in the world. When asked his thoughts regarding who holds the No. 1 spot for world dominance, Steveson’s gave a one-word answer, “Me.” 

#WrestleZagreb

WATCH: Chasing 97kg gold

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (November 3) -- The 97kg weight class at the World Championships in Zagreb saw all four Paris Olympic medalists entered with Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), defending world champion, as the favorite to win the gold medal in Zagreb.

Apart from Tazhudinov, the field included silver medalist from Paris and European champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), Paris bronze medalists Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA), Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) and multiple elite wrestlers.

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO DOCUMENTERY HERE

Magomedov and Matcharashvili bowed out early the semifinals pairs were -- Tazhudinov vs Azarpira and Snyder vs Yoshida.

Azarpira knocked off Tazhudinov with a thrilling win in the semifinals and Snyder used his experience to beat Yoshida to enter the final against Azarpira who had defeated him in Paris in the bronze-medal bout.

Snyder and Azapira squared off in the final with the latter taking early lead but the Snyder, the machine he is, came back and defeated the Iranian 4-2, winning his fourth gold medal at the World Championships.

Tazhudinov and Yoshida went on to win the bronze medals on offer, finishing the podium in one of the premium weight classes in the world.