Toronto, Canada, Pan Am Games

Burroughs Repeats, Rey Doubles Up on 2015 Titles in Pan Am Games

By William May

TORONTO, Canada (July 18) – Defending champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) repeated as Pan American Games gold medalist on Saturday as the United States rolled to three gold medals and a silver on the final day of wrestling competition at the Toronto 2015 Games.

World and Olympic Games champion Burroughs cruised to three wins by technical fall, including a 13-3 triumph in the quarterfinals over Livan LOPEZ (CUB), for his second Pan American Games gold medal after winning at the Guadalajara 2011 Games.

In the 74kg final, Burroughs softened up South American Games champion Yoan BLANCO (ECU) with a series of force-outs in the first period, then wrapped up the technical fall with a single-leg attack and a pair of cross-ankle turns.

Lopez, the gold medalist at 66kg in Guadalajara, rebounded for a bronze medal after his loss to Burroughs.

Meanwhile, three-time Pan American championships winner Zach REY (USA) won his first Pan American Games crown to double up on the continental titles this year. Rey defeated Korey JARVIS (CAN), 3-0, in the 125kg final.

Former junior world champ Kyle SNYDER (USA) made a big splash with his third technical fall of the day, 10-0, over Arjun GILL (CAN) in the 97kg final for his first major senior title.

Jake HERBERT (USA), the Games’ defending middleweight champion, came out on the short end of a wide-open final at 86kg, falling 12-7 to world silver medalist Reineris SALAS (CUB) and his wicked double-leg attack.

With three gold medals on the final day of wrestling, the United States completed the freestyle competition with four of the six gold medals on offer along with a pair of silver medals for 58 points.

Cuba, meanwhile, grabbed the other two gold medals as well as a silver and two more bronze medals, to finish second in freestyle with 49 points. Canada was even more distant in third place with 40 points.

Freestyle
74kg
GOLD: Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Yoan BLANCO (ECU) by TF, 11-0 
BRONZE: Cristian SARCO (VEN) df. Johnathan SCOTT (CRC) by Fall 
BRONZE: Livan LOPEZ (CUB) df. Jevon BALFOUR (CAN) by TF, 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Reineris SALAS (CUB) df. Jake HERBERT (USA), 12-7
BRONZE: Tamerlan TIGZIEV (CAN) df. Pool AMBROCIO (PER), 5-0
BRONZE: Jaime ESPINAL (PUR) df. Ricardo BAEZ (ARG) by TF, 12-0

97kg
GOLD: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Arjun GILL (CAN) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE: Jose DIAZ (VEN) df. Yuri MAIER (ARG), 9-0 
BRONZE: Jesse RUIZ (MEX) df. Marcos SANTOS (PUR), 4-1

125kg
GOLD: Zach REY (USA) df. Korey JARVIS (CAN), 3-0
BRONZE: Edgardo LOPEZ (PUR) df. Hugo DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 8-0
BRONZE: Andres RAMOS (CUB) df. Rene SILVA (NCA) by TF, 10-0

Jake HERBERT (USA), champion en titre de la catégorie de poids moyens, s’est incliné en finale à 86 kg face au médaillé d’argent au niveau mondial Reineris SALAS (CUB).

Avec trois médailles d’or remportées lors du dernier jour de compétition, les Etats Unis terminent la compétition de lutte libre avec quatre des six médailles d’or disponibles, ainsi que deux médailles d’argent pour un total de 58 points.

Cuba a remporté les deux autres médailles d’or, une médaille d’argent et deux médailles de bronze et termine second avec 49 points. Le Canada est loin derrière avec 40 points.

Lutte libre
74kg
OR: Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Yoan BLANCO (ECU) par SP, 11-0 
BRONZE: Cristian SARCO (VEN) df. Johnathan SCOTT (CRC) par tombé 
BRONZE: Livan LOPEZ (CUB) df. Jevon BALFOUR (CAN) par SP, 10-0

86kg
OR: Reineris SALAS (CUB) df. Jake HERBERT (USA), 12-7
BRONZE: Tamerlan TIGZIEV (CAN) df. Pool AMBROCIO (PER), 5-0
BRONZE: Jaime ESPINAL (PUR) df. Ricardo BAEZ (ARG) par SP, 12-0

97kg
OR: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Arjun GILL (CAN) par SP, 10-0
BRONZE: Jose DIAZ (VEN) df. Yuri MAIER (ARG), 9-0 
BRONZE: Jesse RUIZ (MEX) df. Marcos SANTOS (PUR), 4-1

125kg
OR: Zach REY (USA) df. Korey JARVIS (CAN), 3-0
BRONZE: Edgardo LOPEZ (PUR) df. Hugo DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 8-0
BRONZE: Andres RAMOS (CUB) df. Rene SILVA (NCA) par SP, 10-0

Development

Argentina become first country in the Americas to host a Level 3 Coaches Course

By United World Wrestling Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (December 2) —Argentina has become the first country in the Americas to host a Level 3 Coaches Course, organized by United World Wrestling (UWW) and Olympic Solidarity (OS), with the organizational support of the Federación Argentina de Luchas Asociadas (FALA) and the Argentine Olympic Committee (COA). This historic course, held from November 25-29, also stands out as the first-ever Level 3 course conducted in Spanish globally, marking a significant milestone in the development of wrestling coaches in the region.

The course brought together 40 Argentine coaches--including seven women--to enhance their technical and pedagogical skills while embracing a high-performance vision. In addition, Ignacio D'Alessandro (ARG), an international 1S referee and UWW educator, conducted a refereeing clinic, which the participants highly appreciated.

CUBWorld champion and Olympic silver medalist Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG) walks through par terre strategy at the Level 3 Coaches Course in Argentina. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

One of the course's highlights was a technical and practical masterclass delivered by Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG), UWW Bureau member and Olympic medalist. Julfalakyan shared advanced strategies and innovative exercises that inspired participants to raise their training standards and adopt new perspectives in their daily coaching routines.

The program covered essential topics such as the profile of an excellent coach, tactical strategies, periodization theory and training methodology, and pedagogy for both grassroots and high-performance levels. This comprehensive approach not only strengthened the attendees' theoretical and practical knowledge but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration.

Raúl Trujillo and Filiberto Delgado, renowned Cuban coaches with a distinguished track record of training Pan-American, World, and Olympic champions, led the main sessions.

CUBLegendary coach Raúl TRUJILLO (CUB) walks through technique during a training session at the Level 3 Coaches Course in Argentina. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

"Argentina has tremendous potential. During this course, we focused on technical aspects and strategies to evolve and enhance the sport’s development in the country," said Trujillo, the celebrated coach of Mijaín López, a five-time Olympic champion. "The Americas are growing significantly; while Cuba, the United States, and Canada used to dominate, other nations are now achieving remarkable results at World Championships and the Olympic Games."

David Ochoa, Argentina's National Coach and newly accredited UWW Educator, supported the Cuban experts. Ochoa earned this distinction at the most recent Educators’ Course held in Guatemala just weeks prior, and his involvement exemplified Argentina’s commitment to nurturing local talent in wrestling education.

The course opened with an inauguration ceremony at the Argentine Olympic Committee, attended by key figures such as Fernando Rittner, president of FALA; Sebastián Pérez, Secretary General of FALA; Yuri Maier, UWW Sports and Development Officer; Arsen Julfalakyan, UWW Bureau member; and Cristian Roldán, head of administration and responsible for Olympic Solidarity. The practical and theoretical sessions took place at the National Center for High Performance Sports (CENARD), providing a professional and motivating environment for the coaches.

This course marks a significant step in the growth of wrestling across the continent, underscoring the importance of educational programs to elevate coaches’ technical and pedagogical levels. The certificates awarded, endorsed by UWW and Olympic Solidarity, symbolize not only recognition for the participants' efforts but also a commitment to developing the sport in Argentina and Latin America.

The success of this event opens the door to replicating this model in other countries across the continent, contributing to the global advancement of wrestling.