U23 Worlds: Tirana triumph for O'Toole, Brooks; Gimri wins Turkiye's first gold

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 - 21:31 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 24) -- When Keegan O'TOOLE (USA) gets to a cradle, it's game over for his opponents.

Many in the United States have witnessed O'Toole win school and college titles on the back of his go-to move. International fans first saw it in 2021 as he stunned a strong 74kg field to win the U20 world title.

Two years since winning his first and only international competition, O'Toole and his cradle were on display and were good enough to win another world title. The American won the 74kg gold medal at the U23 World Championships on Tuesday, leading to a strong performance from the United States as the first set of medals were awarded on the second day of the tournament.

The U.S. won three of the five gold medals on offer on Tuesday while Turkiye crowned its first-ever Freestyle U23 world champion with Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) winning gold at 92kg. The fifth gold of the night was captured by Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN), winning the title at 61kg.

This is also the first time the U.S. has more than one Freestyle world champ at the U23 level. It drew a blank last year despite three finalists.

Keegan O'TOOLE (USA) won the 74kg gold after beating Imam GANISHOV (AIN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

O'Toole had shown a glimpse of his funkiness on Monday as he made his way to the final using a cradle to pin Hikaru TAKATA (JPN) in the quarterfinals and then got Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR) in the semifinal.

Given his preferred move and crafty wrestling, it was understandable that Imam GANISHOV (AIN) came prepared for the 74kg final and to not get caught in the move. But what he was not prepared for was O'Toole's defense as the American denied Ganishov any points apart from a stepout in the first period. That was the only point O'Toole gave in a 6-1 victory that saw him score three takedowns.

"It feels really good," O'Toole said. "I trained super hard for this. I wasn't sure where I would be as the location got changed. The level is harder at the U23 Worlds but I prepare for challenges and for the worst but I hope for the best."

Keegan O'TOOLE (USA), blue, cradles Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR) in the semifinals on Monday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Both wrestlers were cautious at the start but O'Toole scored by elevating Ganishov's leg when the latter was attempting a lift. He then caught Ganishov by surprise with a single-leg and though Ganishov defended for some time, O'Toole scored a takedown and led 4-0.

Ganishov did try some duckunders and go-behinds but O'Toole was up for the task, defending with ease. A split defense from Ganishov delayed O'Toole's takedown but when he got it, he led 6-1 with just over a minute remaining in the final. O'Toole was happy to play the clock from there on.

The gold medal also qualifies O'Toole for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the Paris Games and he is not shying away from giving it a shot despite his NCAA season.

"That [to qualify for OTT] pressure is gone," he said. "I am going to take some time off. I got to heal up my body a little bit and jump into the college season. NCAA season is good preparation for the Olympic trials but in my head, I am always going for "how am I going to win a gold medal? How am I going to make the Olympic team? I am really confident and excited going forward. I have got eight [six] months for the Olympic trials and each day I am going to do something to prove myself."

Aaron BROOKS (USA) defeated defending champion Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) to win the 86kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

If cradle was O'Toole's move in Tirana, Aaron BROOKS (USA) was chasing ankle picks all day as he stormed to the 86kg world title beating returning champion Tastsuya SHIRAI (JPN) 11-0 in the final.

Shirai had become the first world champion for Japan in over 80kg weight classes and became the first to return to the final at U23 Worlds in Freestyle. A record second straight, however, wasn't to be.

Brooks was on the offense right in the first minute, using collar ties against Shirai. He got the first takedown just as the clock hit the one-minute mark, catching Shirai in a leg attack. After some attempted leg attacks, Brooks ankle-picked Shirai who fell on his back, giving four points to Brooks. A similar pick and one turn on the lace earned him a 10-0 win in two minutes and 39 seconds.

"I am blessed and fortunate," Brooks said. "I trained hard, keeping my mind and spirit in alignment with God. A lot of stuff goes on in the world that can affect us."

Like O'Toole, Brooks will be going for the Olympic Team Trial with the aim of upsetting world champion David TAYLOR (USA).

"Of course [I will challenge for the team spot]," he said. "Just wrestle and get better every day, focus on that. Not just in wrestling but better in every aspect of life and it transcends into wrestling. Just me being me in the present. If that comes, it comes."

Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) battled an injured knee and Adil MISIRCI (TUR) to win the 125kg title. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

The U.S. surged further as Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) won the 125kg gold medal after not only battling Adil MISIRCI (TUR) but also an injured knee that "may heel in a long time."

Hendrickson, who could barely walk to the medal ceremony stage, showed extreme courage to beat Misirci 13-3 in the final despite being in clear pain.

He began the final aggressively, almost pinning Misirci, jumping to a 5-0 lead. A scramble saw both wrestlers twist their knees which further made things worse for Hendrickson, before the referee called neutral. The American then decided to keep his injured right leg out of the attack but did not drop his offense.

He scored two takedowns and a gut to build a 12-1 lead when Misirci stopped him in a turn and scored two points to remain in the match as the score became 12-3. Hendrickson, however, continued the scramble and scored a reversal to win 13-3 with 1:34 still left on the clock.

The 125kg wrestler will also join the star-studded superheavyweight line-up at the Olympic Team Trials next year.

Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) became Turkiye's first-ever U23 world champ in Freestyle. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Gimri's historic gold

One of Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) and Ion DEMIAN (MDA) was certain to create history in the 92kg final. Neither Turkiye nor Moldova had won a U23 world title in Freestyle and by the end of the 92kg final, it was Gimri who wrote his name in history books, becoming Turkiye's first-ever U23 world champion in Freestyle. He defeated Demian 4-3 in a tense final.

Demian led 1-0 at the break after Gimri failed to score any point in the 30-second activity period. But the match sprung to life in the second period as Gimri scored a takedown on the edge to take a 2-1 lead. That was short-lived as Demian blocked Gimri's spin and landed on top of him to get two points.

The Moldovan was 20 seconds away from history but Gimri spoiled his party. He shot for Demian's legs and got hold of the left to score a takedown. He tried a lace to kill the remaining time even as Demian smashed his hand on the mat in disappointment.

At 61kg, Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) denied Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ) and Kazakhstan a gold medal, winning the final 4-0, with two activity period points and two stepouts.

Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) won the bronze medal at 61kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Bronze results

In the bronze medal bouts, returning silver medalist at 61kg Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) added a bronze medal by beating Akash DAHIYA (UWW) 7-0. Zhumashbek Uulu suffered a 9-7 semifinal loss to Yessengeldi. The other bronze medal at 61kg went to Mezhlum MEZHLUMYAN (ARM) who steamrolled Ivan HRAMYKA (AIN), 11-0.

Hikaru TAKATA (JPN) and Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR), both of whom lost to O'Toole at 74kg, clashed for the bronze medal with Takata beating Santiago 11-0 to capture the gold medal. The other bronze-medal bout was a humdinger with NAVEEN (UWW) scoring a stepout with five seconds left to beat Vasile DIACON (MDA), 7-7, and return home with bronze.

At 86kg, Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) and Joshua MORODION (GER) defeated Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA), 6-1, and Benjamin GREIL (AUT), 9-2, respectively to claim third spots on the podium.

The U.S. also got a bronze medal as Jacob CARDENAS (USA) scored a takedown late in the bout against Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW) and eked out a 4-3 win. Abduljalil SHABANOV (AZE) and Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) were involved in a 25-point bout with the former coming out on top 14-11.

2021 U23 silver medalist Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE) managed to pull off a strong win as he defeated World Championships fifth-placer Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN), 5-4, for the bronze medal at 125kg. Khosonov trains at the same center as world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN).

The other bronze medal at 125kg was won by Vakhit GALAYEV (AZE) was managed to beat Anirudh KUMAR (UWW), 10-0, with ease.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ), 4-0

BRONZE: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Akash DAHIYA (UWW), 7-0
BRONZE: Mezhlum MEZHLUMYAN (ARM) df. Ivan HRAMYKA (AIN), 11-0

74kg
GOLD: Keegan OTOOLE (USA) df. Imam GANISHOV (AIN), 6-1

BRONZE: NAVEEN (UWW) df. Vasile DIACON (MDA), 7-7
BRONZE: Hikaru TAKATA (JPN) df. Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR), 11-0

86kg
GOLD: Aaron BROOKS (USA) df. Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN), 10-0

BRONZE: Joshua MORODION (GER) df. Benjamin GREIL (AUT), 9-2
BRONZE: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) df. Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA), 6-1

92kg
GOLD: Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) df. Ion DEMIAN (MDA), 4-3

BRONZE: Abduljalil SHABANOV (AZE) df. Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO), 14-11
BRONZE: Jacob CARDENAS (USA) df. Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW), 4-3

125kg
GOLD: Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) df. Adil MISIRCI (TUR), 13-3

BRONZE: Vakhit GALAYEV (AZE) df. Anirudh KUMAR (UWW), 10-0
BRONZE: Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE) df. Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN), 5-4

#JapanWrestling

Olympic champ Fumita joins Ono as late withdrawal from Emperor's Cup

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - 07:42 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 17) -- Five days after former world champion Masanosuke ONO made the stunning announcement that he was pulling out of the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships, another high-profile star aborted a long-awaited return to action by joining him on the sidelines.

Olympic champion Kenichiro FUMITA announced Wednesday on the eve of the tournament that he was withdrawing due to an injury, keeping him out of what would have been his first tournament since his triumph at the Paris Olympics.

Fumita, who won the Paris gold at Greco 60kg but was entered at 63kg, made the announcement on his X account. Without disclosing the injury, he said it "was not a major injury that will have an effect on my wrestling career, but I feel it is not worth the risk at this time so I decided to withdraw."

The Emperor's Cup is also serving as the domestic qualifier for the 2026 Asian Championships, and as the first of two national domestic qualifiers for this year's World Championships and Asian Games. The latter holds particular significance in that Japan will be hosting the event.

Fumita, the silver medalist at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and a two-time former world champion, had only competed at 63kg once in his career, at the 2023 German Grand Prix, where he placed second as a warmup for the World Championships, where he took home the silver.

The 30-year-old was due to take the mat on Thursday, the first day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym.

"I deeply apologize to everyone who was looking forward [to seeing me] and to all those involved [with the tournament]," Fumita said. "I will make the utmost effort to be in top condition and be able to perform at the next competition."

Last Friday, Ono announced that he had withdrawn for health reasons, a move that indefinitely delays his return to the mats of his native country.

Ono revealed on social media that he had been diagnosed with a kidney problem, possibly linked to cutting weight to get down to 57kg, according to a report by Japan's top wrestling website Wrestling Spirits.

Ono has been competing at either 61kg or 65kg in recent years, and the stress of getting down to 57kg might have taken too big a toll. Ono said that he had gotten near 57kg the previous week when he experienced thickening of the urine, which can be regarded as a sign of dehydration.

Upon consultation with a doctor, it was decided "I will play it safe this time," Ono said.

The 22-year-old Ono has become a worldwide sensation, first by winning the senior world title at freestyle 61kg in 2024 with one-sided victories that included beating a past Olympic gold medalist and the reigning world champion, then for leaving the comfort of Yamanashi Gakuin University for the challenge of competing in American folkstyle at powerhouse Penn State University.

The Emperor's Cup would have provided a rare chance for Ono to compete in a freestyle tournament again, the first step on the path to getting back to the World Championships.

Ono said he will now return to Penn State, where he will resume his introduction into folkstyle. While he is redshirting this year -- the system that allows him to train with the team but not enter official competitions to preserve a year of eligibility -- he plans to enter an open tournament in January.

As pointed out by Wrestling Spirits, the big issue facing Ono now is whether or not he will be afforded a spot in the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in May next year, which will be the second domestic qualifier for the worlds and Asian Games.

As the name implies, the field is limited to invitees, using criteria set by the Japan Wrestling Federation based on results from major competitions over the past year. There are exceptions made for a wrestler who has been out of action for an extended time but has achieved "particularly outstanding results."

In the past, this has been interpreted to mean medaling at an Olympics, as the majority of wrestlers take time off following Olympic success. The question the federation will have to answer is, will a world title in 2024 earn Ono an invitation?

Asked directly by Wrestling Spirits, Kenji INOUE, the federation's chairman of the technical enhancement committee, replied, "At this stage, nothing has been decided."

There is one incentive for the publicity-starved JWF to include Ono in the Meiji Cup field -- it could set up a classic match-up between him and Paris Olympic champion Rei HIGUCHI.

Higuchi has not competed since winning the Paris gold, but has already stated he plans to return at the Meiji Cup with eyes on a first Asian Games appearance.

Ono has not competed in Japan since June 2024, when he participated in the East Japan Collegiate League, a team competition in which he helped Yamanashi Gakuin win the Division I title.

After winning the gold at the Non-Olympic Weight Class World Championships in Tirana in October 2024, he revealed he had been dealing with a broken ankle.

That kept him out of competition for awhile, then early in 2025, he headed across the Pacific to begin training with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. In March, he made the blockbuster announcement that he would enroll at Penn State.

Ono had been entered at 57kg at the Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational in New York in November, but was a late withdrawal for undisclosed reasons.

At the Emperor's Cup, Olympic weight classes will be contested over two days in the same format at the World Championships, while non-Olympic weights will be finished in a single day.

Although Fumita will no longer be competing, fellow Paris gold medalist Yuka KAGAMI will be making her return to the mat for the first time since her Olympic triumph at women's 76kg, which gets started on Thursday.

U23 Worlds: Tirana triumph for O'Toole, Brooks; Gimri wins Turkiye's first gold

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Olympic champ Fumita joins Ono as late withdrawal from Emperor's Cup