#Wrestle4Fun

UWW launches Wrestle4Fun toolkit and updates

Thursday, April 6, 2023 - 00:51 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 6) -- UWW launches Wrestle4Fun toolkit following an extensive review of the Wrestle4Fun programme by the UWW Development Department and the creation of new videos, the Wrestle4Fun toolkit is available to all who wish to introduce wrestling in schools and to young children.

The content and videos are available on the UWW Academy platform: Wrestle4Fun | Academy | United World Wrestling (uww.org). The lesson are located in the Resources section and the videos will be in the Video Library. 

The programme aims at assisting Physical Education teachers and/or club coaches in introducing wrestling to children from ages 4 up to 16 in a pedagogical fun approach.  This approach is based around the Teaching Games for Understanding concept.  Children will be able to learn the sport of wrestling through fun games and activities.  

There are 5 stages based on developmental level.  Each stage is divided into 15 lessons for a total of 75 lessons.  Each lesson plan has videos to illustrate the activities and skills.  Collectively, there are over 200 videos within the programme. 

We hope that these tools will help you introduce wrestling to young children in a safe/healthy environment.

Currently, Wrestle4Fun is only available in English.  In time, the programme will be developed in additional languages.

For any further information or assistance you may require, please feel free to contact Zach Errett, UWW Education Manager and/or Deqa Niamkey, UWW Development Director for any questions or further information.

#UWWAwards

UWW Breakout Wrestlers of 2025: Hidlay, Farokhi, Onishi

Monday, December 15, 2025 - 12:24 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 14) -- The 2025 Breakout Wrestlers of the Year were not the ones anyone circled heading into the season. They weren’t the favorites, or the ones analysts picked to walk away from the season as world medalists.

They were the outsiders, largely unproven and underestimated. But that all changed in a single season when they smashed expectations, catapulting themselves into world-wide stardom with world-title runs that nobody saw coming.

Freestyle Breakout Performer of the Year: Trent HIDLAY (USA)

Before 2025, Hidlay had never climbed to the top of a podium at an international event. His  2025 season even began with more doubt than promise, dropping his second match of the year to rising Azeri phenom Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) at the Zagreb Open. But that loss lit a fuse. From that moment on, the 26-year-old didn’t just improve -- he transformed.

Hidlay unleashed a stunning 13-match win streak and collected gold medals at the Pan-American Championships, the Budapest Ranking Series and the World Championships. Along the way, he knocked off giants -- Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), and Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), just to name a few.

Then came the finale: a world finals comeback for the ages. Down and all but finished, Hidlay stormed back to defeat Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW). In one year, Hidlay didn’t just win -- he arrived.

Greco-Roman Breakout Performer of the Year: Gholemreza FAROKHI (IRI)

When opportunity knocked, Farokhi wasn’t just there to answer it, he was there to kick the door off its hinges. The 23-year-old stepped into Iran’s senior lineup for the first time in his career and tore through anyone in front of him -- whether it was at 82kg or 87kg.

Farokhi bulldozed his way to gold medals at the two World Championships he participated in. He racked up a perfect 17-0 record, including 11 technical superiority wins and six decisions, sweeping gold at the World Championships, U23 World Championships, the Islamic Solidarity Games, and the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

Women’s Wrestling Breakout Performer of the Year: Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

At 19 years old, Onishi entered the senior circuit with massive goals but had zero experience and zero fear. In mere months, she became a problem no one had an answer for.

Onishi tore through the season with a flawless 15-0 record, capturing titles at the Senior and U20 World Championships, the Asian Championships, and the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. Her dominance wasn’t subtle -- it was exactly what you’d expect from a Japanese women’s wrestler -- 11 tech falls, three pins, and a decision, outscoring opponents 158-17.