UWW Live

UWW LIVE: Frank Staebler: Three-Time World Champion

Wednesday, July 29, 2020 - 19:34 By United World Wrestling Press

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Frank STAEBLER (GER) has been one of the world's most successful Greco-Roman wrestlers over the past five years. 

The 31-year-old German has captured three world titles since 2015, and also has two world bronze medals on his wrestling resume.

Staebler won his first world title in 2015 at the World Championships in Las Vegas at 66kg. After competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Staebler added back-to-back world titles in 2017 and 2018 at 71kg and 72kg respectively. Last year, Staebler finished with a bronze medal at the World Championships in Nur-Sultan. 

Staebler joined Eric Olanowski to talk about how wrestling has impacted his life, how his loss to Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO (CUB) in Nur-Sultan drives him every day and how he plans on becoming a keynote speaker after retiring after the conclusion of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
 

#BeachWrestling

Sakurai swaps mat for sand, wins Beach Wrestling gold

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 09:01 By Vinay Siwach

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TOKYO (May 13) -- Paris Olympic champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) made a return to competition for the first time since August last year. However, it was not on the mat.

Sakurai, who won gold medal at 57kg in Paris, returned to compete in beach wrestling. She wrestled at the Japan Beach Wrestling National Team Qualifying Tournament held in Tachikawa, Tokyo on Sunday and won gold at 60kg

"It may sound strange for me to say it, but I felt that I was suited to it," Sakurai was quoted by Japan Olympic Committee.

Sakurai, who is not entered for the June 19-22 Meiji Cup, Japan's qualifying tournament for the World Championships in September, is now qualified to compete for Japan in Beach Wrestling this year.

"Since I am qualified for the international tournament, I will try to participate," she said. "I want to be number one. I'll practice on the sandy beaches of Kochi [Prefecture]."

The three-time world champion, however, did not rule out the possibility of returning to the mat soon.

"I am still practicing on the mat and when I feel like I am ready, I will be back on the mat," she said.