#ThrowBackThursday

#TBT: Monday Stops Fadzaev From Winning Fifth World Title

Thursday, May 13, 2021 - 14:33 By Eric Olanowski

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In a battle of reigning Olympic champions, Kenny MONDAY ?? defeated Arsen FADZAEV ?? in the 74kg gold-medal match at the ’89 World Championships. At the time of their meeting in Martigny, Switzerland, Fadzaev won world titles in ’83, ’85, ’86, ’87 and a gold medal at the ’88 Seoul Olympic. After the loss to Monday in ’89, he rebounded and went on to win additional world titles in ’90 and ’91 and a second Olympic gold in ’92.

#UWWAwards

'21 Breakthrough Performances of the Year: Geraei, Zare and Focken

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 - 12:23 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 7) -- Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), Amir ZARE (IRI) and Aline FOCKEN (GER) have been named United World Wrestling’s Breakthrough Performance of the Year award winners.

Geraei came into 2021 without having a world or Olympic medal on his resume. The 25-year-old, known as ‘The Iceman,’ defied all expectations and claimed Olympic gold in Tokyo and closed out his improbable ’21 campaign with a world-title run in Oslo.

Zare, at just 20-year-old, had a colossal year. He collected an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo before upsetting three-time world champ Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Olympic gold medalist Taha AKGUL (TUR) en route to gaining heavyweight supremacy at the Oslo World Championships.

Aline Focken picked the perfect time to retire. After missing out on the ’12 London Olympic Games and a ninth-place outing in Rio, the 12-year-veteran ended her career with an upset victory over five-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) in the 76kg Olympic finals.