UWW Live

UWW LIVE: RISAKO KAWAI (JPN), Olympic Gold Medalist & Three-Time World Champ

By Eric Olanowski

Kawai heads into the Toyko Olympics as arguably the top women's wrestler in the world. She joined Eric Olanowski to talk about winning gold at the Rio Olympic Games, followed by three consecutive world titles.

Kawai also opened up about her pair of victories over four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO ? to make Japan's '19 world team and a potential matchup with fellow Olympic champion, Helen MAROULI (USA).

#development

UWW hosts pre-Belgrade Worlds training camp

By United World Wrestling Press

DIVCIBARE, Serbia (October 2) --- United World Wrestling, together with the support of the Olympic Solidarity Sports Development Unit - Athletes and Sport Development Division via the Youth Athletes Development – International Federation Training Opportunity, organized a ten-day acclimatization camp before the first of six qualification events for the Paris Olympic Games from September 5-15, in Divcibare, Serbia.

Over 130 athletes and coaches from 50 nations participated in this year’s training camp and the UWW Technical Assistance for Competitions program.

SRBWrestlers who attended the training camp warm up for practice with a friendly game of basketball. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

‘We understand the importance of this competition and the financial difficulties our federations are facing with the worldwide inflation. At United World Wrestling, we always have our athletes at heart and try to support them as much as we can, to be fair to everyone to have an equal chance to take part in the 1st Paris Olympic Games Qualifier for wrestling, to help them on their first step towards achieving their Olympic dreams,' said Deqa NIAMKEY, UWW Development Director. ‘We had a record-high number of athletes and coaches this year in our supporting program.’