USA Team Trials

United States Finalizes Olympic Team, Maroulis Completes Comeback as Steveson Shines

By United World Wrestling Press

FORT WORTH, United States (April 3) – Helen Maroulis, two-time world champion and 2016 Olympic champion, defeated Jenna Burkert in their best-of-three series to make the United States starting squad for Tokyo 2021.

“I’m so blessed that I was able to come back, I honestly didn’t know if there was going to happen,” said Maroulis. “I’m just so grateful they are having the Games still.”

On the men’s side Gable Steveson wowed the audience with a dominating performance at 125kg, defeating two-time world bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski in straight matches. Steveson, who did a full back layout after winning, told reporters that he “was coming for the world,” and was prepared to take gold in Tokyo.

Kyle Dake, a two-time world champion at 79kg, secured the starting Olympic spot at 74kg defeating Olympic champion and four-time world champion Jordan Burroughs in straight matches. 

In Greco-Roman a number of top seeds held their position, including 2017 world silver medalist Adam Coon who won his spot on Saturday, but will now focus on preparing to qualify the 130kg for the USA squad in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Interviews can be found, here.

The full list of winners for the 2021 US Olympic Team Trials: 

Men’s Freestyle

57kg: Thomas Gilman

Bout One – Gilman pin Arujau, 5:42
Bout Two – Gilman dec. Arujau, 2-2

*65kg: Jordan Oliver

Bout One – Oliver dec. McKenna, 3-0
Bout Two – Oliver dec. McKenna, 5-2

74kg: Kyle Dake

Bout One – Dake dec. Burroughs, 3-0
Bout Two – Dake dec. Burroughs, 3-2

86kg: David Taylor

Bout One – Taylor dec. Nickal, 4-0
Bout Two – Taylor dec. Nickal, 6-0

97kg: Kyle Snyder

Bout One – Snyder tech. fall Moore, 10-0
Bout Two – Snyder dec. Moore, 5-1

125kg: Gable Steveson

Bout One – Steveson tech. fall Gwiazdowski, 10-0
Bout Two – Steveson dec. Gwiazdowski, 10-4

Women’s Wrestling

50kg: Sarah Hildebrandt

Bout One – Hildebrandt tech. fall Anthony, 12-2
Bout Two – Hildebrandt tech. fall Anthony, 10-0

53kg: Jacarra Winchester

Bout One – Winchester dec. Heaton, 7-4
Bout Two – Winchester tech. fall Heaton, 12-2

57kg: Helen Maroulis

Bout One – Maroulis dec. Burkert, 5-3
Bout Two – Burkert dec. Maroulis, 6-5
Bout Three – Maroulis pin Burkert, 0:24

62kg: Kayla Miracle

Bout One – Miracle dec. Kilty, 8-4
Bout Two – Kilty dec. Miracle, 4-3
Bout Three – Miracle inj. dft. Kilty, 0:32

68kg: Tamyrah Mensah-Stock

Bout One – Mensah-Stock dec. Blades, 12-4
Bout Two – Mensah-Stock dec. Blades, 8-1

76kg: Adeline Gray

Bout One – Gray tech. fall Welker, 10-0
Bout Two – Gray tech. fall Welker, 11-0

Greco-Roman

60kg: Ildar Hafizov

Bout One – Hafizov dec. Mango, 7-0
Bout Two – Hafizov tech. fall Mango, 8-0

67kg: Alejandro Sancho

Bout One – Sancho dec. Coleman, 2-0
Bout Two – Sancho dec. Coleman, 3-1

*77kg: Jesse Porter

Bout One –Porter dec. Walsh, 8-1
Bout Two – Porter dec. Walsh, 7-7

87kg: John Stefanowicz

Bout One – Stefanowicz dec. Rau, 6-5
Bout Two – Stefanowicz dec. Rau. 2-1

97kg: G”Angelo Hancock

Bout One – Hancock tech. fall Amos, 8-0
Bout Two – Hancock tech. fall Amos, 8-0

*130kg: Adam Coon

Bout One –Coon tech. fall Schultz, 10-0
Bout Two – Coon dec. Schultz, 3-3

*Denotes weight categories yet to be qualified by the United States. The United States team trials are an almost certain indicator of the team to be presented in Tokyo, but is not official until the United States submits their entry list to the International Olympic Committee.

 

 

#development

Bringing Asia Together: OCA-UWW Wrestling Camp Concludes in China

By United World Wrestling Press

GUANGZHOU, China (July 15) -- The 2026 Olympic Council of Asia and United World Wrestling Asian Wrestling Youth Camp and Course for Coaches concluded at the Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports on Wednesday, bringing together 62 athletes and 30 coaches from 30 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) across Asia.

Held from July 8-15, the camp also included 40 student wrestlers from the Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports, providing additional training opportunities and a valuable platform for athletes and coaches to exchange knowledge and experience.

At the closing ceremony, participants received certificates of participation and commemorative gifts from representatives of the OCA, UWW and the Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports.

Wrestling UWW

OCA Director of Family Relations & Development Programs Wissam TRKMANI thanked all those involved in organising the camp.

“This has been a wonderful camp and I would like to thank everyone who has made it possible," Trkmani said. "Wrestling is one of the oldest Olympic sports. It builds mental resilience, physical strength and personal discipline, providing a strong foundation for athletic development. The UWW educators have truly inspired the young athletes, and everyone worked hard to make this camp a success.”

Trkmani encouraged the athletes, aged 14 to 17, to continue pursuing their sporting ambitions and thanked the coaches for their commitment to developing young wrestlers across the continent.

Speaking on behalf of UWW, Bureau member, Olympic silver medallist and Chair of the UWW Athletes Commission Arsen JULFALAKYAN described the camp as amazing and encouraged coaches to share the knowledge and experience gained in Guangzhou with their wrestling communities at home.

Wrestling UWW

UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY highlighted the importance of the camp for the future development of wrestling in Asia.

“This is the biggest youth camp we have hosted in Asia, thanks to the support of the OCA and all the National Olympic Committees and National Federations," Niamkey said. "Youth development is one of the main pillars of UWW development, and coaches are fundamental to that mission. This event not only provided an opportunity to improve technical standards but also allowed athletes to make friends and coaches to exchange experience and expertise, helping to build a stronger wrestling community across Asia.”

The camp combined athlete training sessions with a dedicated education programme for coaches, reinforcing the commitment of the OCA and UWW to developing wrestling through athlete pathways, coach education and international cooperation.