#WrestleBelgrade

WATCH: 10 Greco-Roman finals from World Championships

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 27) -- The World Championships began with Greco-Roman at the Stark Arena in Belgrade. Host nation Serbia claimed four gold medals out of the 10 on offer. However, it finished third in the team rankings with Turkey, led by legend Riza KAYAALP (TUR), finishing first. Azerbaijan finished second, just seven points behind Turkey.

Apart from Serbia, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan won two gold medals each while two others were shared by Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Watch all the 10 Greco-Roman gold medal bouts from the World Championships.

GOLD: 55kg - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)

 

GOLD: 63kg - Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Sebastian NAD (SRB)

 

GOLD: 67kg -  Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) vs. Mate NEMES (SRB)

 

GOLD: 72kg - Ali ARSALAN (SRB) vs. Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE)

 

GOLD: 97kg - Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) vs. Kiril MILOV (BUL)

 

GOLD: 130kg -  Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Riza KAYAALP (TUR)

Obituary

U.S. Greco-Roman star Alan Vera passes away

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 24) -- United States Greco-Roman wrestler and Pan-Am champion Alan VERA (USA) passed away Monday. Vera suffered a sudden cardiac arrest earlier this year and had been hospitalized since then in recovery from his serious health challenges.

Vera was born in Cuba and won a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games and a gold medal at the 2016 Pan American Championships, while competing for Cuba. He immigrated to the United States and lived in Florida for a number of years. He continued to train and compete in Greco-Roman and various international events for a few years.

Vera qualified the U.S. for the Paris Olympics in 97kg at the 2024 Pan-American Olympic Qualification Tournament in Acapulco, Mexico.

Very saddened to hear about Alan Vera’s passing. In my limited time around him he was always willing to help on the mat, and offer a laugh at a terrible joke I made

— Kyle Dake (@kyledake444) September 24, 2024
 

Domestically, Vera claimed his first U.S. national title in 2020, and won four national titles during his career.

Vera was married to Elena PIROZKHOVA (USA), a two-time Olympian and former world champion.

United World Wrestling mourns the death of Vera and stands with the Vera family.