#OffTheMat

What makes Amir Yazdani Olympic wrestling's next big super star?

Wednesday, June 29, 2022 - 14:04 By Eric Olanowski

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (June 29) --- In a country that’s birthed some of wrestling’s biggest stars, Amir YAZDANI (IRI) is on the cusp of becoming a household name. He has the perfect mix of attack-first style of wrestling, a massive smile and boatloads of energy – on and off the mat – which makes the 21-year-old a perfect candidate to be wrestling’s next big thing.

In our latest #OffTheMat special, we sat down with Yazdani to talk about his introduction into wrestling and how having one of wrestling’s most-famous last names impacted his path into the sport. He also walked us through his breakout performance at the 2021 World Championships where he reached the world finals.

Furthermore, Yazdani discussed the difficulties that came along with handing Iran their 65kg berth to the Tokyo Olympic Games but falling short in Iran’s Olympic wrestle off and how that impacted him in moving up to 70kg. He also talked about his #PathToParis and how 74kg is the likely destination over the next few years.

Kirsty Coventry elected 10th IOC President

Saturday, March 22, 2025 - 21:49 By United World Wrestling Press

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COSTA NAVARINO, Greece (March 21) -- Kirsty Coventry has been elected the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee.

The 41-year-old Zimbabwean was chosen in a secret ballot of seven candidates at the 144th IOC Session being held in Costa Navarino, Greece, on Thursday (20 March), for an eight-year term of office.

President-elect Coventry replaces outgoing President Thomas Bach, who was first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2021. She received 49 votes in the first round, exactly the number required for a majority from the 97 votes cast.

She will be the first woman and the first African to serve as IOC President. "I'm very proud to call myself a Zimbabwean and to have grown up there, for my mum to have been born there, my grandmother," she told Olympics.com afterwards. "And, [my message] to Africa: this is our time."

President-elect Coventry will assume office after the handover from President Bach on Olympic Day, 23 June. President Bach, who remains in the role until then, will also resign as an IOC Member after the transfer of power and will then assume the role of Honorary President.

Read full news on Olympics.com