#development

UWW renews WISH partnership, 6 coaches to be in high-performance program

Wednesday, June 1, 2022 - 07:59 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 31) -- Continuing its push for gender neutrality and to provide more opportunities for women to progress into leadership roles, United World Wrestling (UWW) has renewed its partnership with Olympic Solidarity for the Women in Sport High Performance Pathway, also known as the WISH Programme.

Six current and/or future coaches have been selected for the 21-month program, which has been developed in coordination with a team of specialists at the UK-based University of Hertfordshire. The program aims to help women coaches, who have the potential and ambition, to progress into high-performance coaching roles at national and international levels.

The WISH initiative took shape following a discussion between stakeholders on the ways to address the low percentage of women coaches at an elite level. At the Tokyo Olympics, for instance, even though 48 percent of the athletes were women, just 13 percent of the coaches were female. The program was thus launched to bridge this gap. 

Wrestling was among the six sports that were a part of the successful pilot program, which ran from 2019 to 2021.

In this edition, three-time world champion Martine DUGRENIER (CAN), former World Championship silver medalist Aline DA SILVA (BRA) and Australia’s Carissa HOLLAND are a part of the first group of 22 coaches from 20 NOCs and seven sports, who began their training in May. Olympic medalists Guzel MANYUROVA (KAZ), Marwa AMRI (TUN) and Happiness BURUTU (NGR) will be a part of the next batch that starts training in August.

The participants were chosen on the basis of extensive selection criteria set by the WISH management group. The guidelines include the requirement of the candidate to be recognized by the national and international federations as well as the NOC of being, or having the potential to be, a part of the national delegation to major international tournaments, having no history of anti-doping or other ethics violation, ability to commit to the whole program and having good written and spoken English (min IELTS 6.5).

The training module includes eight online leadership sessions, eight leadership mentor sessions, four sport-specific mentor sessions and a five-day residential session in the UK. The IF supports the coaches selected for the program with direct funding of US $3,500 in addition to sport-specific mentor fees and travel, accommodation and developmental costs.

The WISH program is being managed by a steering group of representatives from Olympic Solidarity, Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations, International Federations and WISH management/University of Hertfordshire. 

#WrestleBratislava

On 14th attempt, Prevolaraki wins historic European gold for Greece

Friday, April 11, 2025 - 22:47 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 11) -- Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) made her first trip to the European Championships in 2011 when she was 19 years old. She competed in 14 European Championships and returned home with eight medals -- four silvers and four bronzes -- over the last 13 years.

Now 33 and competing at her 14th European Championships, Prevolaraki won her first gold medal with a thrilling win over Andreea ANA (ROU), ending a 24-year wait for Greece to have a champion in Women's Wrestling at the continental event. Former world champion Sofia POUMPOURIDOU (GRE) was the last and only other European champion for Greece in Women's Wrestling.

"I am very happy that I managed to earn the gold medal," Prevolaraki said. "I was waiting so many years to be the European champion and I am 33 years old but I managed to do it."

Over the years, Prevolaraki has lost four finals, all to different opponents. But Friday, she managed to keep her composure in a close bout for the win.

"This time I am more experienced and I did not feel any pressure," she said.  I played freely and good things happen when you have no pressure."

Wrestling in Bratislava in the 53kg weight class, Prevolaraki was hit with passivity first and put on the 30-second clock which expired without Prevolaraki scoring to give Ana 1-0 lead.

Ana extended her lead to 3-0 when Prevolaraki tried to hit a cut-back but was unsuccessful in the move. With more than two minutes remaining, Ana tried defending her 3-0 lead but was put on the activity clock when 1:10 were left.

During the 30-second period, Prevolaraki went for the leg-attack but Ana moved and tried getting behind Prevolaraki which she almost did and tried throwing the Greek with a cradle. But Prevolaraki was alerted and did not land in danger and scored a takedown. The activity clock against Ana expired which added another point for Prevolaraki, making the score 3-3 with the Greece wrestler leading on criteria of last point scored.

Romania decided to challenge, a strategic one. Even a lost challenge would need Ana to score a point to win from 4-3 with Prevolaraki lead and 3-3 with criteria to Prevolaraki.

On review, Romania lost the challenge and Prevolaraki led 4-3. Ana hit a sweep single and tried forcing Prevolaraki out of bounds but the Greece wrestler turned it around to get Ana's head out first and get another point to lead 5-3 which she defended and won the gold medal.

Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) at the medal ceremony of the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"I think I have had a good career," she said. "I am sad that I don't have an Olympic medal but I have many European medals and world Championships medals."

Prevolaraki, a four-time Olympian, a rare feat in wrestling, paid tribute to three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar SAITIEV, by wearing a shirt with his photo and message. Saitiev had passed away in March at the age of 49 years.

"The legend [Saitiev] is for all wrestler all over the world and his legend has no bounds. I wanted to pay a tribute to this legend," she said.