#Webinar

Webinar Schedule for November 2-8

Saturday, October 31, 2020 - 02:38 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

Topic: Clarification of some complicated situations - English
Date: Monday, 2 November
Time: 16:00 - Zurich (Check your local time)
Speaker: Antonio Silvestri and Ibrahim Cicioglu
Language: English
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/99166486994

Topic: Duties, responsibilities and importance of mat chairman - Russian
Date: Thursday, 5 November
Time: 14:00 - Zurich (Check your local time)
Speaker: Noravard Arustamyan
Language: Russian
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/96979023918

Topic: Duties, responsibilities and importance of mat chairman - French
Date: Thursday, 5 November
Time: 16:00 - Zurich (Check your local time)
Speaker: Kamel Bouaziz
Language: French
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/98320073372

Topic: Duties, responsibilities and importance of mat chairman - Spanish
Date: Thursday, 5 November
Time: 18:00 - Zurich (Check your local time)
Speaker: Carlos Garcia
Language: Spanish
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/92200840256

Topic: Active Wrestling and Criteria for Passivity - Arabic
Date: Saturday, 7 November
Time: 16:00 - Zurich (Check your local time)
Speaker: Kamel Bouaziz
Language: Arabic
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/97411776478

#UWWAwards

UWW History Makers of 2025: Kougioumtsidis, Reasco, Sultangali

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:29 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

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."