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Successful UWW Event Organization Workshop concludes in Istanbul

Tuesday, August 8, 2023 - 13:45 By Eric Olanowski

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (August 5) — The third edition of the United World Wrestling's Event Organization Workshop was a great success in Istanbul, Turkey, from July 27-August 1. Last year's event in Rome was also a hit, making this year's workshop a continuation of that accomplishment. The Pullman Istanbul Hotel & Convention Centre hosted the workshop due to its modern amenities and comfortable accommodations.

Participants from 13 countries attended the workshop, creating a diverse and international gathering. In total, 21 individuals joined, bringing valuable knowledge and experience with them.

The workshop started with an opening ceremony attended by the key players responsible for its delivery. Rodica Maria YAKSI (TUR), the UWW Bureau Member and UWW Committee of Associated Styles President, played a crucial role in its success. Jean-Daniel REY (SUI), the project head, and Yuri MAIER (ARG), the UWW Sport & Development Officer, were also present. Their presence highlighted the importance of the workshop for the wrestling community.

The workshop focused on educating participants about event organizing, covering topics such as planning tools, event benefits, bidding process, functional areas, and more. It included four theoretical and practical sessions and some essential activities of the U17 World Championships, including technical meetings, draws, medical examinations, and weigh-ins. 

Participants also had informative talks with various commissions and toured the venue set up for the U17 World Championships.

This year's workshop saw increased participation from experts in various fields, enriching the discussions and making the event more impactful. Participants appreciated the opportunity to engage with different commissions, gaining valuable insights applicable in multiple domains.

RODRodica Maria YAKSI (TUR), UWW Bureau Member and UWW Committee of Associated Styles President, leads the discussion at the third annual UWW Event Organization Workshop. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The experts who facilitated the discussion included Yui Maier - UWW Sport and Development Officer; Kadir CALISKAN (GER) – Media/Photos; Deividas BARGAILA (LTU) - IT, Rodica Maria Yaksi - Protocol and Award Ceremonies, Ana STANKOVIC (SRB) – Accreditation and Athena System, Antonina BOSSER (SUI) - Sustainability, and Halil Ibrahim CICIOGLU (TUR) - Refereeing.

One of the highlights of the workshop was the introduction of The Event Preparation Guide, a comprehensive guide designed to help event organizers prepare for any UWW event. The guide covers all the necessary areas and requirements involved in organizing an event, including logistical planning, marketing and promotion, communication, and safety measures. It is a vital tool that ensures the success of any UWW event and helps to create a memorable experience for all participants.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL -> Event Preparation Guide,

Feedback from an anonymous survey after the workshop was overwhelmingly positive, showing participants' enthusiasm for future editions. The interactive sessions and diverse discussions provided valuable insights for event organization and execution. One participant said, "I liked the positive energy of everyone who participated in the seminar, the interest from us to learn as much as possible, and the willingness of the instructors to pass it on to us and help us."

Overall, the Event Organization Workshop provided an excellent learning platform for participants, empowering them to organize events more efficiently and effectively in the future.

Stadnik retires: Europe's best who rewrote history

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 11:06 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (February 4) -- Four Olympic medals, six World Championships medals, 10 European titles, two European Games golds, many triumphs and heartbreaks later, Mariya STADNIK (AZE) has called it a day.

Stadnik, who debuted 22 years ago in 2003, announced her decision to retire from wrestling in an event organized by Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation in Baku on Monday. In an emotional video, Stadnik can be seen removing her shoes on the mat in front of a crowd and then speaking about her career.

"I recorded my name in the history of Women's Wrestling. Thank you to everyone who created this story together with me," Stadnik wrote on Instagram. "Now it's time to close this page of my life and write a new history."

Back in 2003, Stadnik began with a gold medal at the U17 European Championships, won a U20 world title two years later, added senior one as well and had a storied Olympic career which was laden with heartbreaks.

"I always had the motivation and will to win," Stadnik said last year. "I have had this will since early childhood, and this is endless."

READ MORE: Stadnik, 34, remains unbeaten in Europe

Though her will has stretched her career over two decades, Stadnik's decision to retire came after a lot of thought.

"In wrestling, I used all my chances," Stadnik said. "Now I understand that the time has come when I can be useful for wrestling in another role."

The 36-year-old, who was born in Ukraine but competed for Azerbaijan, will be moving into a caretaker role with the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation in Women's Wrestling and will be responsible for churning out new stars.

When Stadnik made her debut in 2003, Japan, China, United States and Canada were top nations. However, Stadnik changed that. She won her first World Championships medal in 2007 and qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in which she won a bronze medal as an 18-year-old.

Soon, she won her first world title in 2009 and emerged as the new force from Europe. She went on to win the European Championships as well. Stadnik brought competition to Women's Wrestling.

"For these countries, the competition with me was always serious," she said. "We always had tense and intriguing fights that were followed by the whole world. Mariya Stadnik from Azerbaijan was always a danger for them."

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)Mariya STADNIK (AZE) won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

Perhaps it was no surprise that she was in the final of 2011 World Championships and 2012 London Games. However, she came up short both times to Hitomi OBARI (JPN).

"I give a lot of respect to Obara because she was stronger than me at that moment and the London gold was hers," she said. "She was my strongest opponent whom I respect very much."

Barring those Japanese hurdles, Stadnik was unstoppable. She added more medals at the continental level and always stood on the podium at the World Championships.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)A dejected Mariya STADNIK (AZE) at the 48kg medal ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Tony Rotundo)

Then came the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Stadnik was at the peak of her wrestling her. A Olympic gold would take so much off her back. She was in the final of the 48kg in Rio and the gold medal was within touching distance as she was leading Eri TOSAKA (JPN) 2-1 in the final. But Tosaka crushed those dreams in the final five seconds, beating Stadnik 3-2.

Stadnik till today has no explanation as to what happened in those last five seconds of the final against Tosaka.

"I didn't watch my match from Rio for two years and still can't find an explanation why that competition ended like that," Stadnik said. "I knew and felt that the Rio gold should have been mine."

Stadnik geared up for one more time. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics would have been perfect ending for her. But by then, wrestling had changed with two-day weight ins, a newer generation of wrestlers had come up and Yui SUSAKI (JPN) was on a mission.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)Mariya STADNIK (AZE) lost her first meeting with Yui SUSAKI (JPN) 2-2 at the Klippan Lady Open in 2018. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fynn)

The first time Stadnik and Susaki faced each other was in the Klippan Lady Open final in 2018. Stadnik was winning the final but Susaki scored a stepout in the final second to shock Stadnik.

People doubted Stadnik and her mental strength. The 2019 World Championships gave a huge boost of confidence for Stadnik who won her second of the two world titles in Astana, exactly ten years after winning her first.

The Tokyo Olympics were just 10 months away and Stadnik was ready for it. However, with COVID-19 pandemic, it got pushed to 2021 and Susaki went on to win the gold medal with a 41-0 record in four bouts including a 10-0 rout of Stadnik in the semifinals.

Stadnik still managed to win a bronze medal, her fourth of the Olympics, tying her with Kaori ICHO (JPN) and Saori YOSHIDA (JPN). Icho was four golds and Yoshida has three silver and one bronze.

"I know people talk about the gold medal but I am so happy with this bronze. It's satisfying," she said back in 2021.

But Stadnik wasn't satisfied with wrestling. After being away from the mat in 2022, she returned in 2023 and won her ninth European title, the most in Women's Wrestling, extending her unbeaten streak in European Championships to 34 bouts.

Then she made a run for the Paris Olympics and though that meant taking losses to opponents she used to toy with in the past, the mother of two secured her place for Paris in the final qualifiers in Istanbul. Her body was ageing, reducing weight was becoming gruesome and her opponents were becoming quicker.

She returned home without a medal but became the first female wrestler to compete at five Olympics. Soon after Paris, Stadnik reflected on what she has left for wrestling and decided that a role off the mat was more suited now. Letting go off something so big in her life was hard and emotional for her.

"When I watched the video in which I take my shoes off, I had tears," she said. "This is the end of an important part of my life. What I loved so much for many years is ending."