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Olympic Channel: Iran's 'Greatest' Hassan Yazdani Seeks Wrestling Immortality

By Andrew Binner

Hassan YAZDANI, a 25-year-old native of Jouybar, is already a national hero in Iran. He's claimed gold at the Rio Olympic Games and has a pair of world titles on his resume. In an article published on the Olympic Channel, Andrew Binner broke down the career of "The Greatest" and looked at his path to a potential second Olympic title.

"Freestyle wrestling is Iran’s national sport, so when Hassan Yazdani pinned down the 74kg gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics, he became an instant national hero.

He moved up to 86kg, which better suited his growing frame, taking out the world championships gold medal at his new weight division in 2017 and 2019.

Yazdani became known as The Greatest and Fearless back home, while his Instagram account swelled to over 500K followers. Quite simply, he could walk the streets of Iran like he was The King… which is incidentally another one of his nicknames there.

“The truth is that I hope I am worthy of these nicknames,” he told Tehran Times. “Each one is valuable for me and so I hope I can live up to the nicknames and the expectations of my great fans. I always want to keep their hope, so I accept them all and just hope that I am worthy.”

Read more on the Olympic Channel's site ... here

Development

UWW and ITA Deliver Successful On-Site Anti-Doping Education at 2025 Senior Worlds Acclimatization Camp Poreč

By United World Wrestling Press

POREC, Croatia (September 11) --- The United World Wrestling (UWW) Senior World Championships acclimatization camp in Poreč recently hosted a successful on-site Anti-Doping education event in collaboration with the International Testing Agency (ITA). This marked the first time UWW partnered with ITA to deliver education directly at a training camp.

A dedicated booth was set up on 8th and 9th September during the camp, and presentation sessions, led by ITA educator Anita Hartung, were held during the evenings of both days.

"The United World Wrestling Acclimatization Camp offered a great opportunity to connect with athletes ahead of their major competition. Many stopped by the Clean Sport booth before and after training, showing genuine interest and openness in discussing the fundamentals of Anti-Doping," said Anita Hartung, ITA Educator. "It was inspiring to be surrounded by such a motivated athlete community and support them in their sporting journey."

The sessions provided athletes with in-depth knowledge about Anti-Doping rules, safe supplement use, and ethical sporting practices. Two dedicated presentation sessions explored key topics, including athletes’ rights and responsibilities, how to check medications, Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs), Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), and the risks associated with supplement use. Holding the sessions during the acclimatization period, rather than the competition phase, allowed athletes to engage in a more relaxed environment and fully focus on learning.

CRO

“These are some of the best wrestlers in the world, and thanks to the collaboration with ITA, they are better informed,” said by Carlos Roy, UWW Secretary General, “Education on Anti-Doping protects our sport, promotes fair competition, and ensures our athletes can perform at their best with confidence.”

The initiative reflects UWW’s ongoing commitment to clean sport and athlete support. By equipping wrestlers with knowledge and tools to make informed choices, UWW and ITA aim to strengthen integrity in wrestling while fostering a culture of safe and fair competition.

The Anti-Doping education sessions are part of a broader effort by UWW to provide athletes with continuous learning opportunities on the importance of competing clean, complementing existing regulations and testing programs.

With the Senior World Championships on the horizon, these activities ensure that athletes are not only physically and technically prepared but also well-informed about Anti-Doping practices, reinforcing the values of integrity, fairness, and excellence in wrestling.