#UWWLIVE

UWW LIVE: Netherlands' First European Finalist Jessica Blaszka

Tuesday, September 22, 2020 - 17:34 By United World Wrestling Press

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Jessica BLASZKA (NED) is the most successful Dutch women's wrestler ever. 

In 2015, Blaszka earned a bronze medal at the World Championships competing at 48kg and became the first Dutch women's wrestler to qualify for the Olympics. 

She claimed her first medal (bronze) at the European Championships in 2019, and this past February broke through to reach the gold-medal match at the 2020 European Championships at 53kg, before falling to two-time world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR). 

Blaszka joined Eric Olanowski to talk about her history-making silver medal performance in Rome, training in @japanwrestling, and her potential path to qualifying for the #Tokyo202ONE Olympics.
 

2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games

Oborududu Named Athlete Role Model for 2026 Dakar YOG

Monday, June 15, 2026 - 11:13 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 15) -- Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) was announced as one of the 36 Athlete Role Models for the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games.

Oborududu, a silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has been a stalwart in Nigerian sports and represented the country for close to two decades. In Tokyo, she made history by winning silver medal at 68kg in Women's Wrestling, becoming Nigeria’s first‑ever Olympic medallist in the sport.

The four-time Olympian was also a 14-tim African champion, a record that still stands. She compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and finished fifth.

The Athlete Role Models will provide mentoring and workshop training to young athletes on site during Dakar 2026. They will be on the ground in Senegal to engage with competing athletes, providing support and advice around competition and taking part in educational workshops. These workshops cover topics such as career management, injury prevention and mental preparation, among many other things.

The group will also attend training sessions, engage with the local community, support the athletes from the sidelines and be there to congratulate them at victory ceremonies.

The Dakar 2026 YOG will take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, bringing together around 2,700 young athletes aged up to 17 across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.