#Rome2018

Three Russian Women Win Euro Gold

Thursday, August 2, 2018 - 18:55 By Eric Olanowski

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ROME, Italy (August 2) - Russia’s Greco-Roman squad won four gold medals on their way to a team title, and Russian women picked up where their Greco-Roman countrymen left off, dominating the European Junior women’s wrestling competition to the tune of three gold medals. 

Russia's three gold medal performances today matched their overall gold medal output for the entire women’s wrestling competition at last year’s Dortmund European Championships. 

Veronika GURSKAYA (RUS), Aleksandra NITSENKO (RUS) and Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) each won their respective weight classes and took home a European gold medal.  This was Nitsenko’s first time winning an age-level continental championship, while Gurskaya and Velieva have won at least one age-level European gold medal. 

Gurskaya, who last won a European title in 2013 launched the Russian gold medal parade, defeating Aynur ERGE (TUR), 8-6 in the unpredictable back and forth 55kg gold medal bout. 

Though Gurskaya was the aggressor the entire match, she continued to allow Erge to stay in the match by turning defense into offense. 

The three-time age-level world bronze medalist used a fireman’s carry and gut wrench in the opening period to command the 6-2 lead heading into the break. 

But it was Erge, Turkey’s four-time European representative who remained patient and tied the match with two minutes remaining, scoring a four-point head-lock as Gurskaya pushed the pace on the out of bounds line. 

With 90 seconds left, Gurskaya shot a double-leg and grabbed the match-deciding takedown, ultimately winning the bout, 8-6.

Aleksandra Nitsenko used two double-leg takedowns and a step-out to storm through Darya SINKAVETS (BLR), 5-1, giving Russia back-to-back golds medals, and more importantly, her first continental championship. 

Khanum Velieva, the three-time age-level world champion gave Russia their third gold medal of the day, shutting out Yauheniya ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR), 7-0 in the 68kg gold medal bout. 

Velieva obtained her third age-level European title by scoring seven points off two takedowns and three step-outs. 

Russia (100 points) leads Turkey (74 points) by 26 points heading into the final day of women’s wrestling, but Russia still has two finalists, while Turkey only has one. 

The day five medal matches begin Friday at 6:00 PM (local time). 

RESULTS 
50kg 
GOLD -  Veronika GURSKAYA (RUS) df. Aynur ERGE (TUR), 8-6 

BRONZE -  Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA) df. Stefania Claudia PRICEPUTU (ROU), 6-6 
BRONZE - Ellen RIESTERER (GER) df. Magdalena Maria MAJOS (POL), via fall. 

55kg 
GOLD -  Aleksandra NITSENKO (RUS) df. Darya SINKAVETS (BLR), 5-1 

BRONZE - Eda TEKIN (TUR) df. Szimonetta Timea SZEKER (HUN), 5-2 
BRONZE -  Khrystyna Zoryana DEMKO (UKR) df. Aukse RUTKAUSKAITE (LTU), 12-1 

59kg 
GOLD -  Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR), 12-2 

BRONZE - Morena DE VITA (ITA) df. Alina KAZYMOVA (RUS), 6-2 
BRONZE -  Debora LAWNITZAK (GER) df. Maryia HULIDA (BLR), 10-2  

68kg 
GOLD -  Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) df. Yauheniya ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR), 7-0 

BRONZE - Kadriye AKSOY (TUR) df. Tindra Linnea SJOEBERG (SWE), via fall 
BRONZE -  Alina RUDNYTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR) df. Ewelina Weronika CIUNEK (POL), 12-2 

76kg (Single bronze) 
GOLD -  Denise Sabina MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) df. Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR), 10-0 

BRONZE - Elmira KHALAEVA (RUS) df. Iryna PASICHNYK (UKR), 1-1 

Wrestling 2026 Season Preview: Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - 11:11 By Vinay Siwach

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 2) -- The 2025 World Championships in Zagreb marked a turning point in international wrestling as 18 first-time world champions were crowned, signaling the arrival of a new generation well before the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games begins.

A few scenes in Zagreb showed what the titles meant. A women’s champion hugging anyone she could find, a Freestyle winner delivering revenge, and a Greco-Roman champion lifting a nation’s pride. Now, 2026 will determine whether those champions can turn a breakthrough into sustained dominance, or if the veterans will reclaim control.

For traditional powers like the United States, Iran, and Japan, maintaining dominance will be harder than ever as more countries close the gap.

In Women’s Wrestling, Japan is being challenged by the DPR Korea, while in Freestyle the U.S. and Iran remain the central rivalry. In Greco-Roman, Iran is undoubtedly the best team in the world but Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are closing the gap as another strong season approaches.

As wrestling moves toward LA 2028, 2026 becomes the year where storylines start to stick. The UWW Pro Series is part of that shift, taking its final shape before launch. Wrestlers will be rewarded for their ranks for the year and will stand a chance to win a grand prize.

The fans can follow wrestling with United World Wrestling through UWW+ on uww.org, Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Freestyle

A Sadulaev vs Yazdani final at the World Championships. A match-up like no other can happen in 2026.

The 2026 season begins with a question: when will Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) return? A dream match against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is now firmly on the cards. Yazdani, the 2016 Olympic champion at 74kg, is now competing at 97kg, ten years later. Sadulaev, who won Olympic gold at 86kg in Rio, moved to 97kg soon after that gold.

The Iranian may compete at the Zagreb Open or at the Tirana Ranking Series. If the return is delayed, world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) will likely carry the weight for Iran early in the season.

At the same time, several major stars are preparing comebacks. Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) is expected to return after recovering from shoulder surgery, while Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) is also set to resume competition, most likely around May.

READ THE FULL FREESTYLE PREVIEW HERE

Women’s Wrestling

Japan captured five of the 10 medals on offer at the World Championships and nothing less is expected from its wrestlers. But out of the first four weight classes, it managed to win only one gold and missed out on medals in two of them.

Missing a medal at 50kg is rare for Japan. It happened in 2009, then in 2019 and in 2025. So what can be expected from the best country in Women's Wrestling or perhaps wrestling?

The DPR Korea, China, India, Ukraine and the United States keep challenging Japan at various competitions but it has managed to hold its own. With the gap closing, 2026 will be a similar story.

Continental Championships will be the first test for countries building towards the year-ending World Championships. But these tournaments can also witness the returns of a few wrestlers. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), Amit ELOR (USA), Maria YEFREMOVA (UKR), and possibly VINESH (IND).

Additionally, several medal contenders are shifting weight classes in 2026, opening their paths to medals at the World Championships and later at the Olympics.

READ THE FULL WOMEN'S WRESTLING PREVIEW HERE

Greco-Roman

Iran ruled Greco-Roman in 2025 with dominant performances at all levels, and it was not even close. Barring that one battle with Uzbekistan at the U17 World Championships, Iran remained untouched. In 2022 and 2023, it showed signs of long-term dominance and in 2024, it won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Then in 2025, it won team titles at all age-group levels.

At the World Championships in Zagreb, it won four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Out of the 10 wrestlers, eight won medals, missing only at 77kg and 60kg. Will 2026 be Iran's year again?

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) make the core team. World champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) has been the latest sensation, going unbeaten in 2025 and winning the U23 world gold at 87kg. Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) is also a proven wrestler at 87kg having won an Olympic and world silver.

Iran has a second team which can challenge any established star in the world. U20 and U23 world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) is a wrestler waiting for his turn at 130kg. Hedayati is getting closer to beating Mirzazadeh in selection for the Iran team.

Payam AHMADI (IRI), Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Ahmadi VAFA (IRI) are already part of the team while younger stars wait for their turns.

But there has been an influx of talent in Greco-Roman in the new cycle especially with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Armenia and UWW wrestlers stepping up.

READ THE FULL GRECO-ROMAN PREVIEW HERE