Webinar

Webinar Schedule for June 22-26

By United World Wrestling Press

Below is the Referee Commission and Development Department webinar schedule for next week (22-26 June). These webinars are available to anyone that wold like to join and learn more about the topics.

Please note the time of each webinar and compare that to your local time

Schedule for 22-26 June

Topic:  Takedown and Control by Prof. Dr. Ibrahim CICIOGLU

Date:  Monday, 22 June
Time:  14:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 08:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Language:  English
Level:  National and International Referees and National Coaches
Meeting Link:  https://zoom.us/j/92048306062

Topic:  Coach’s Role in Youth Sports by Hector Luis CAMACHO PEDRIQUEZ
Date:  Tuesday, 23 June
Time:  20:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 14:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Language:  Spanish
Level:  Introductory Level Coach
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/98637902626 

Topic:  Referee Competencies & Referee Team Duties by Norovard ARUSTAMYAN
Date:  Wednesday, 24 June
Time:  14:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 8:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Language:  Russian
Level:  National Referees and Coaches
Meeting Link:  https://zoom.us/j/91906878823

Topic:  Coach’s Role in Youth Sports by Vladimir SHATSKYKH
Date:  Thursday, 25 June
Time:  14:00 – Zurich (UTC+2) – 8:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Language:   Russian      
Level:  Introductory Level Coach
Meeting Link:  https://zoom.us/j/94598044415

Topic:  Active Wrestling & Criteria for Passivity by Mr. Antonio SILVESTRI
Date:  Thursday, 25 June
Time:  15:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 9:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Language:  English
Level:  National and International Referees and National Coaches
Meeting Link:  https://zoom.us/j/99873060376  

Topic:  Referee Competencies & Referee Team Duties by Carlos GARCIA
Date:  Friday, 26 June
Time:  17:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 11:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Language:  Spanish
Level:  National Referees and Coaches
Meeting Link:   https://zoom.us/j/99527148786

 

Should you have any questions, please contact Zach Errett, UWW Education Manager, at zach.errett@unitedworldwrestling.org.

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UWW History Makers of 2025: Kougioumtsidis, Reasco, Sultangali

By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 22) -- United World Wrestling has announced the History Makers of the Year 2025. The performance of these three wrestlers transcended competition and produced a once-in-a-generation accomplishment.

Freestyle’s History Maker 2025: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)

If there’s one nation that’s draped in sports tradition, it’s Greece, but surprisingly enough, the nation had never produced a male wrestling world champion.

Prior to 2025, wrestlers from Greece were 0-3 in gold-medal matches and had not reached a world finals since 1991. Then came 23-year-old Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS who stunned the world by defeating Levi HAINES (USA) 3-2 in the 79kg final to become his nation’s first-ever world champion.

Up until Kougioumtsidis' victory, Georgios ATHANASSIADIS (GRE) lost both of his world finals matches and Iraklis DESKOULIDIS (GRE) lost the final in 1991. The lone Greek woman to ever step to the top of the medal podium at the World Championships was Sofia POUMPOURIDOU (GRE), who won the women's 51kg gold on home soil in 2002.

"I'm very lucky that I am Greek," Kougioumtsidis said. "So I feel like I made all Greeks proud. I am Greek and I love my country." He continued, saying, “I'm the first male [from Greece] who won a gold medal at the World Championships. It's my dream come true. I think this year is a good achievement. I achieved my goal."

Women’s Wrestling History Maker: Genesis REASCO (ECU)

Reasco made history by becoming Ecuador's first-ever world champion, which came two years following Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) silver-medal finish at the 2023 World Championships where she still become the Ecuador's first-ever world medalist.

Reasco reached the pinnacle of the sport with a 4-2 victory in the 76kg final over two-time world medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), which came one match removed from knocking off Paris bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN (CUB) in the semifinals.

"I went in, gave my all, and it worked," Reasco said. "That’s how the gold medal was achieved, because honestly, I have a lot of respect for all my opponents. They gave everything out there on the mat, and they were really good matches -- both yesterday’s and today’s. Everything was very tough, very close."

Greco-Roman’s History Maker: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ)

Sultangali ended a 26-year Greco-Roman drought, giving Kazakhstan their first Greco world champion since 1999 with a very quick victory over Uzbek youngster Alisher GANIEV (UZB) in the 60kg finals at the World Championships.

Sultangali, who won two world bronze medals between 2018 and 2022, only needed 1:07 to cap off masterful first-period 9-0 win over Asian runner-up GANIEV (UZB).

"I didn’t plan to win the final match so easily and quickly," Sultangali said. "But it happened. Today is a historic day for our country because the last gold medal for Kazakhstan came in 1999, 26 years ago," said Sultangali, "I am happy that my country is happy."