#WrestleSofia

Wrestler with Down Syndrome Brings Joy to Many at #WrestleSofia

Friday, August 2, 2019 - 11:07 By Taylor Miller

Share this article
Gallery
Fatih EMIRHAN, Wrestler with Down Syndrome

 

Fatih EMIRHAN (TUR), a 10-year-old athlete with Down Syndrome from Turkey, wrestled at his first World Championships on Thursday night in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

In a special match set up by United World Wrestling, Emirhan wrestled against his coach, Ali BURAK TOY (TUR), on the center stage just before the women’s freestyle finals.

Emirhan showed off some of his best skills, scoring four points on an arm throw and a four more on an outside trip, before he pinned Burak Toy.

The crowd went wild, and like he had seen many wrestlers do in the days before, Emirhan did a victory lap, smiling and jumping the whole way. After, he was presented a gold medal by Mr. Tzeno TZENOV (BUL), UWW Europe President and UWW Vice President.

When he was 7 years old, his mother, Essen Turkmen, enrolled Emirhan in wrestling so that she could give her son every opportunity that other children get. Now, he trains with Burak Toy four times a week, including three wrestling practices and one swimming session.

Since he began the sport, his coach says that Emirhan always maintains a positive attitude and has never once complained about being tired.

Wrestling has also had an impact on his day-to-day life as his speech and physical abilities have greatly improved. Additionally, Emirhan has developed better social skills through wrestling.

Last night was not the first time that Emirhan has wrestled on a big stage. In late-2017, he defeated European, World and Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) in another fun exhibition in Turkey.

As a rising star and someone who is eager to learn, it is likely we will see Emirhan do some even greater things in our sport.

#UWWAwards

UWW Comebacks of the Year 2025: Uguev, Maroulis, Amoyan

Friday, December 19, 2025 - 10:30 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 18) -- United World Wrestling’s 2025 Comeback Wrestlers of the Year are three wrestlers who refused to let their careers be defined by defeat and setbacks.

Freestyle Comeback Wrestler: Zaur UGUEV (UWW)

There was a time not too long ago where Uguev career trajectory was pointing him in the direction of becoming the greatest lightweight of this generation, but he hit a slump in 2023 and 2024, finishing fifth at the World Championships.

This year, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist returned to top form. He went from an afterthought to one of the sport's most dominant wrestlers -- reclaiming world gold for a third time in his career and first time since the 2019 World Championships with a 11-2 win over Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) in the 61kg finals.

"This is a very joyful event in my life -- I am once again on the top of the podium," Uguev said. "I am very happy and grateful to my team, my coach, my sparring partners, our national team -- thanks to everyone who played a part in my victory."

Women’s Wrestling Comeback Wrestler: Helen MAROULIS (USA)

For most, 2021 seems like yesterday. But for Maroulis, it’s been a grueling four years of waiting and working to reclaim her spot a top the world ranks. Despite having to completely change her style of wrestling due to lack of conditioning that stemmed from an allergic reaction to antibiotics before the World Championships, Maroulis found a way to bolster her resume with a fourth world title -- adding to her career wins 2015, 2018, and 2021, not to mention her three Olympic medals.

She did so with three quick pins in Zagreb before inside tripping Il-Sim SON (PRK) in dramatic fashion, stealing the world title as the clock expired.

After the match, the 11-time world and Olympic medalist said, "I had to really, really dig deep for that and, I don't know, before the last exchange started, I just had to dig deep and find it. It was just some scramble flurry and just that it came out my way. I'm grateful."

Greco-Roman Comeback Wrestler: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

Like Maroulis’ four-year battle to get back to the top, Amoyan found himself fighting an uphill battle to regain world gold since his last title-winning run in Oslo in 2021. But after moving up from 72kg to 77kg, he struggled. He fell one match short of his goal at the World Championships in 2022 and 2023, and again at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games where he settled for a bronze medal.

But 2025 was different as the 26-year-old put on arguably the greatest Greco-Roman performance of the Zagreb World Championships, capping off his run to a second world title with an unexpected 9-1 thumping of reigning Olympic gold medalist Nao KUSAKA (JPN).

"I became a world champion back in 2021 [at 72kg], but I really wanted to become world champion at 77kg. For two years, I struggled with injuries, and nothing was going as it should. Thankfully, at this World Championships I was prepared -- mentally, physically, and functionally -- and by God's grace I managed to triumph and become a two-time world champion."