Development

United World Wrestling Assists in Delivery of Mats and Equipment to Puerto Rico

Monday, December 17, 2018 - 00:14 By United World Wrestling Press

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (December 17) – United World Wrestling and USA Wrestling’s Wrestling4Peace initiative successfully delivered two new wrestling mats, two donated wrestling mats and a variety of training equipment and clothing last week to the Puerto Rico Wrestling Federation.

The donated mats and equipment were collected by USA Wrestling’s Wrestling4Peace with two new mats and delivery payments provided by United World Wrestling. The donations are part of an ongoing commitment by United World Wrestling to help the island in their recovery from hurricanes that pummeled the nation in 2017.

“Puerto Rico is one of the strongest wrestling nations in the Americas,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. “We are here to better serve our athletes, especially those who’ve had to overcome obstacles like the hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. This is just a part of what we’d like to accomplish, and it’s a great start.”

Lorraine RORABAUGH (USA) and Steve FRASER (USA) of USA Wrestling4Peace join Puerto Rico National Olympic Committee president Sara ROSALES (PUR), UWW Americas president Francisco LEE (GUA), and Puerto Rico national wrestling federation president Manual GARCIA (PUR) for a discussion of the recent donations (Photo: Luis Marin).

Puerto Rico has enjoyed plenty of wrestling success in recent years, with Jaime ESPINAL snatching Olympic silver with his runner-up finish in Beijing in freestyle at 86kg.

“We would like thank United World Wrestling for the coordination of the mats donated by USA Wrestling,” said Manuel GARCIA, president of the Puerto Rico National Wrestling Federation. “This donation has been a blessing to our island and act of kindness that you cannot find words to express how thankful we are.”

The donated mats were put to immediate use as 1984 Greco-Roman Olympic champion Steve FRASER (USA) put on a pair a clinics at local wrestling clubs in San Juan. Fraser taught a variety of techniques and talked with the young wrestlers about what it takes to win at the Olympic level.

“It was Wrestling4Peace’s pleasure to help Puerto Rico recover from the challenges it faced after Hurricane Maria,” said Fraser. “With the assistance of United World Wrestling, we were happy to collect over 1000 pieces of wrestling gear, including wrestling shoes, singlet’s, shorts, shirts, two wrestling mats and some strength training equipment and deliver to Puerto Rico Wrestling Federation.”

Development

Divcibare hosts 2025-2026 Educator-Educator Course

Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 12:29 By United World Wrestling Press

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DIVČIBARE, Serbia (February 13) — Nestled in the scenic mountains of Serbia, DivČibare served as the host city for the 2025-2026 Educator-Educator Course, held from January 23-26. This event gathered 28 participants from 17 different countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including Olympic and world champions, referees, and experienced coaches, all eager to enhance their instructional skills and contribute to the development of wrestling education worldwide.

The course was expertly led by Vincent AKA (CIV) and Zach ERRET (USA), with the presence of Deqa NIAMKEY, Director of Development at United World Wrestling (UWW). Over four days, participants engaged in a dynamic and interactive learning experience, covering advanced pedagogical concepts such as the 80/20 teaching method, effective feedback techniques (TAG), and innovative use of technology in sports education. Microteaching sessions provided a hands-on approach, allowing attendees to refine their skills by delivering lessons and receiving constructive peer feedback.

4.0Participants go through an on-the-mat training course at Serbia. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

A highlight of the program was the diverse exchange of experiences among participants. “As an Olympic champion, I will definitely incorporate many of the concepts from this course into my future programs,” noted Komeil GHASEMI (IRI). Mo EGYPT, a world champion, emphasized the importance of integrating new technologies and interactive teaching methods into coaching strategies, while Nenad ZUGAJ (CRO) described the experience as “a course where we all participated through various tasks, helping and guiding each other.”

Beyond the classroom, the event fostered camaraderie among educators, strengthening global collaboration for future wrestling education initiatives. Participants enjoyed their stay at a tranquil mountain hotel, enhancing team dynamics and cultural exchange.

srb 2UWW staff walk through the interactive learning experience, covering advanced pedagogical concepts such as the 80/20 teaching method, effective feedback techniques (TAG), and innovative use of technology in sports educatio. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Deqa NIAMKEY highlighted the significance of this course at the start of a new Olympic cycle, stressing UWW’s commitment to renewing and strengthening its educational programs by involving high-level experts and supporting athletes in their transition to coaching roles.

With a renewed sense of purpose and enriched teaching methodologies, the educators left Divččibare prepared to contribute to the continuous growth of wrestling education worldwide. The course not only elevated professional capacities but also reinforced the shared mission of developing the next generation of wrestling instructors through innovation and excellence.