#UWWAwards

UWW 2023 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year Nominees

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 11) — United World Wrestling has announced the five nominations for the 2023 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year, awarded to the best Greco-Roman wrestler of the year.

The nominations reflect the results from this year’s World Championships, Continental Championships, Continental Games and Ranking Series events.

The five finalists are: 

Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB)
- 67kg world champion
- Pan American Championships gold medalist
- XIX Pan-American Games champion
- Zagreb Open Ranking Series bronze medalist
- Kyrgyzstan Ranking Series bronze medalist
- Ranked No.1 in the world with 86,400 points 

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)
- 130kg world champion
- Asian Championships gold medalist
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Kyrgyzstan Ranking Series champion
- Ranked No.1 in the world with 76,000 points

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
- 77kg world champion
- Asian Championships gold medalist
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Ranked No.1 in the world with 65,000 points  

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
- 60kg world champion
- Asian Championships gold medalist
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Ranked No.1 in the world with 68,000 points

Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
- 63kg world champion
- European champion
- Kyrgyzstan Ranking Series champion
- Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series silver medalist
- Ranked No.1 in the world with 75,000 points

Batumi to host 2027 U23 Euros; 2026 Pan-Am calendar updated

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (January 29) -- United World Wrestling has announced updates for its events calendar for both 2026 and 2027.

For 2027, Batumi, Georgia will host the U23 European Championships from March 8 to 14. With this, Georgia, a top wrestling country, marks a return to the UWW's events calendar after six years having hosted the 2019 Veteran World Championships.

The 2026 U15 Pan-American Championships were awarded to Mexico City, Mexico and the tournament will be from July 23 to 25. The U15 Pan-American Beach Wrestling Championships will also be conducted in Mexico City. The same will be held on July 26.

UWW also decided to shift the 2026 U23 Pan-American Championships to Lima, Peru from Caracas, Venezuela. The competition will be held June 11-13 in the Peruvian capital with competition being held over three days, with medal bouts of respective styles to be completed on the same day.

The Senior Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships will also be held in Lima, Peru on June 14.

Updated 2026 Pan-American Championships calendar:

- U17 Pam-American Championships, April 2-4 (Panama City, Panama)
- Senior Pan-American Championships, May 7-10 (Coralville, United States)
- U23 Pan-American Championships, June 11-13 (Lima, Peru)
- U20 Pan-American Championships, July 9-11 (Niteroi, Brazil)
- U15 Pan-American Championships, July 23-25 (Mexico City, Mexico)

Updated 2026 Pan-Am Beach Wrestling Championships Calendar:

- U17 Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships, April 5, (Panama City, Panama)
- Senior Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships, June 14 (Lima, Peru)
- U20 Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships, July 12 (Niteroi, Brazil)
- U15 Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships, July 26 (Mexico City, Mexico)

UWW remains at the disposal of all National Federations for any query. For all events, refer to uww.org/events.