#WrestleBratislava

On 14th Attempt, Prevolaraki Wins Historic European Gold for Greece

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 11) -- Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) made her first trip to the European Championships in 2011 when she was 19 years old. She competed in 14 European Championships and returned home with eight medals -- four silvers and four bronzes -- over the last 13 years.

Now 33 and competing at her 14th European Championships, Prevolaraki won her first gold medal with a thrilling win over Andreea ANA (ROU), ending a 24-year wait for Greece to have a champion in Women's Wrestling at the continental event. Former world champion Sofia POUMPOURIDOU (GRE) was the last and only other European champion for Greece in Women's Wrestling.

"I am very happy that I managed to earn the gold medal," Prevolaraki said. "I was waiting so many years to be the European champion and I am 33 years old but I managed to do it."

Over the years, Prevolaraki has lost four finals, all to different opponents. But Friday, she managed to keep her composure in a close bout for the win.

"This time I am more experienced and I did not feel any pressure," she said.  I played freely and good things happen when you have no pressure."

Wrestling in Bratislava in the 53kg weight class, Prevolaraki was hit with passivity first and put on the 30-second clock which expired without Prevolaraki scoring to give Ana 1-0 lead.

Ana extended her lead to 3-0 when Prevolaraki tried to hit a cut-back but was unsuccessful in the move. With more than two minutes remaining, Ana tried defending her 3-0 lead but was put on the activity clock when 1:10 were left.

During the 30-second period, Prevolaraki went for the leg-attack but Ana moved and tried getting behind Prevolaraki which she almost did and tried throwing the Greek with a cradle. But Prevolaraki was alerted and did not land in danger and scored a takedown. The activity clock against Ana expired which added another point for Prevolaraki, making the score 3-3 with the Greece wrestler leading on criteria of last point scored.

Romania decided to challenge, a strategic one. Even a lost challenge would need Ana to score a point to win from 4-3 with Prevolaraki lead and 3-3 with criteria to Prevolaraki.

On review, Romania lost the challenge and Prevolaraki led 4-3. Ana hit a sweep single and tried forcing Prevolaraki out of bounds but the Greece wrestler turned it around to get Ana's head out first and get another point to lead 5-3 which she defended and won the gold medal.

Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) at the medal ceremony of the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"I think I have had a good career," she said. "I am sad that I don't have an Olympic medal but I have many European medals and world Championships medals."

Prevolaraki, a four-time Olympian, a rare feat in wrestling, paid tribute to three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar SAITIEV, by wearing a shirt with his photo and message. Saitiev had passed away in March at the age of 49 years.

"The legend [Saitiev] is for all wrestler all over the world and his legend has no bounds. I wanted to pay a tribute to this legend," she said.

#WrestleCoralville

Pan-American Championships 2026 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

CORALVILLE, IOWA, United States (April 29) -- The 2026 Pan-American Championships will held from May 7 to 10 at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, United States.

The competition will kick off with Greco-Roman before moving to Women's Wrestling and finishing with Freestyle.

Eight weight classes of Greco-Roman will go in action on Thursday and the remaining two Greco and six Women's Wrestling weight classes will be in action on Friday. On Saturday, four Women's Wrestling and three Freestyle weight categories will be held. The remaining seven Freestyle weight categories will wrestle on Sunday.

Click here for full schedule of 2026 Pan-American Wrestling Championships.

All the action from Pan-Am Championships will be live on UWW+ and FloWrestling.

Note: The entries are subject to change 72 hours before the draws of each style. For latest entries, refer to UWW Pan-Am Wrestlers

UWW Plus

Freestyle

57kg
Daniel DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Christopher MERLO (CAN)
Juan RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM)
Guesseppe REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Omar VALENZUELA MEDINA (MEX)
Justin ROSALES LACAYO (NCA)
Andre HUARCAYA LOPEZ (PER)
Darian CRUZ (PUR)
Liam CRONIN (USA)
Pedro MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

61kg
Garette SAUNDERS (CAN)
Peter HAMMER CUDE (CRC)
Alex VEGA TUN (GUA)
Irie JACKSON (JAM)
Caleb SMITH (PUR)
Austin DESANTO (USA)

65kg
Shannon HANNA (BAH)
Matheus DA LUZ BARRETO (BRA)
Peiman BIABANI (CAN)
Matias MUNOZ RAMIREZ (CHI)
Tommy GARCIA SANCHEZ (DOM)
Joshua KRAMER (ECU)
Jordan MITCHELL (JAM)
Zachary ESPALIN AGUIRRE (MEX)
Jose BENITES VASQUEZ (PER)
Joseph SILVA (PUR)
Daniel OLIVERA SOLORZANO (URU)
Real WOODS (USA)
Wilfredo RODRIGUEZ BOCANEY (VEN)

70kg
Mauricio LOVERA (ARG)
Michael ZALE (CAN)
Francisco GONZALEZ TORRES (MEX)
Victor SOTO RIVERA (PUR)
Ridge LOVETT (USA)

74kg
Renato DA SILVA (BRA)
Adam THOMSON (CAN)
Jorge GATICA HINRICKSEN (CHI)
Arbey ALARCON TOVAR (COL)
Geannis GARZON TAMAYO (CUB)
Julio RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Brandon HERNANDEZ CARDONA (GUA)
Luis BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Raul PALACIOS DOMINGUEZ (MEX)
Sixto AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER
Jonathan PARRILLA RAMOS (PUR)
Phillip WEBSTER (USA)
Ibsen AGUILAR CANIZALEZ (VEN)

79kg
Patrik LEDER (CAN)
Jhoan SERNA RODRIGUEZ (COL)
Sergio ESPINOZA MUNIZ (MEX)
Michael LABRIOLA (PUR)
Levi HAINES (USA)

86kg
Jorge LLANO (ARG)
Pedro GONCALVES DA SILVA (BRA)
Taran GORING (CAN)
Christopher FOCA MEJIA (DOM)
Kevin DE LEON TREVINO (MEX)
Angel CORTES BONILLA (PAN)
Jesus LANDA CESPEDES (PER)
Ethan RAMOS (PUR)
Zahid VALENCIA (USA)
Jose PINERO SEGUERI (VEN)
Lucas BORDEAUX REGO ALVAN (BRA)

92kg
Andrew JOHNSON (CAN)
Shane JONES (PUR)
Trent HIDLAY (USA)

97kg
Ailton BRITO ROCHA (BRA)
Nishan Preet RANDHAWA (CAN)
Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB)
Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Steven BURRELL (JAM)
Humberto VALVERDE UZNER (MEX)
Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Edwin MORALES (PUR)
Stephen BUCHANAN (USA)
Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Gabriel DE SOUSA SILVA (BRA)
Jorawar DHINSA (CAN)
Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Elison ADAMES GARCIA (DOM)
Aaron JOHNSON (JAM)
Brandon ANGUIANO FLORES (MEX)
Jonovan SMITH (PUR)
Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

Luis ORTA (CUB)Luis ORTA (CUB) will be wrestling at 67kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Yan LANDIM RIBEIRO (BRA)
Moises PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX)
Max NOWRY (USA)

60kg
Pedro DE SOUZA RODRIGUES (BRA)
Augusto VARGAS VALLE (CHI)
Kevin DE ARMAS RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Yerony LIRIA CARRERAS (DOM)
Clisman Adrian CARRACEDO VELIZ (ECU)
Alexis RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Abel SANCHEZ JUAREZ (PER)
Edrick MARTINEZ MATEO (PUR)
Dalton ROBERTS (USA)
Carlos HERRERA BARRIOS (VEN)

63kg
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX)
Derick MARTINEZ MATEO (PUR)
Landon DRURY (USA)

67kg
Mauricio LOVERA (ARG)
Angelo CAFE DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI)
Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL)
Luis ORTA (CUB)
Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Jose VARELA GARCIA (GUA)
Irving SALAZAR CABRERA (MEX)
Nilton SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Otto BLACK (USA)
Jonaiker MARTINEZ CRAVO (VEN)

72kg
Mauri VICENTE SILVERIO JUNIOR (BRA)
Emerson FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Benjamin PEAK (USA)

77kg
Justin BOYCE (BAR)
Joilson DE BRITO (BRA)
Eduardo BERNAL MOLINA (CHI)
David CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Oscar BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Diego MARTINEZ (MEX)
Dario CUBAS CASTILLO (PER)
Joel ADAMS (USA)
Darfel PARADA CAMACARO (VEN)

82kg
Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX)
Kamal BEY (USA)

87kg
Andre RAMOS PINTO (BRA)
Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
Johan BATISTA (DOM)
Jose VARGAS RUEDA (MEX)
Carlos ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER)
Beka MELELASHVILI (USA)
Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG)
Ronisson BRANDAO SANTIAGO (BRA)
Jhonny ARIAS BERDUGO (COL)
Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB)
Carlos ADAMES PALMER (DOM)
Kevin MEJIA (HON)
Dorian TREJO OLGUIN (MEX)
Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Timothy YOUNG (USA)
Juan DIAZ BLANCO (VEN)

130kg
Guilherme EVANGELISTA DIAS (BRA)
Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI)
Oscar PINO (CUB)
Jose NUNEZ ENCARNACION (DOM)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Tyrece THOMPSON (JAM)
Luis LOPEZ VAZQUEZ (MEX)
James FORD (PUR)
Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA)

Genesis REASCO (ECU)World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) will be at 76kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Thalia OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Madison PARKS (CAN)
Dannia FIGUEROA DUQUE (COL)
Greili BENCOSME CARVAJAL (CUB)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Mercedes CASTILLO BERNAL (MEX)
Nathaly HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Katie GOMEZ (USA)
Nohalis LOYO JIMENEZ (VEN)

53kg
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN)
Antonia VALDES ARRIAGADA (CHI)
Maria GONZALEZ (DOM)
Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)
Sofia OCEGUEDA GONZALEZ (MEX)
Yusneiry AGRAZAL WEST (PAN)
Ana ALVAREZ FERNANDEZ (PER)
Aneishka SANTOS BAEZ (PUR)
Cristelle RODRIGUEZ DOBLER (USA)
Alexa ALVAREZ  VALENZUELA (VEN)

55kg
Amber WIEBE (CAN)
Josefina RAMIREZ DUARTE (MEX)
Everest LEYDECKER (USA)

57kg
Camila AMARILLA (ARG)
Giullia PENALBER (BRA)
Karla GODINEZ (CAN)
Tatiana HURTADO LERMA (COL)
Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB)
Yocleidy RAMIREZ SANTANA (DOM)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Bertha ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX)
Nadia TRUJILLANO (PER)
Amanda MARTINEZ (USA)
Maria FUENTES SALINAS (VEN)

59kg
Mayara RAMOS PEREIRA (BRA)
Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
Daniela MARTINEZ VARGAS (MEX)
Abigail NETTE (USA)

62kg
Rebecca WILLIAMS (BAR)
Lais NUNES (BRA)
Annika FINES (CAN)
Paula MONTOYA GARCIA (COL)
Melanie JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX)
Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA)
Astrid MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

65kg
Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
Alexis GOMEZ (MEX)
Kayla MIRACLE (USA)

68kg
Eduarda RODRIGUES BATISTA (BRA)
Aleah NICKEL (CAN)
Virginia JIMENEZ FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Maria CEBALLOS CUENU (COL)
Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX)
Jasmine ROBINSON (USA)
Nathaly GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN)

72kg
Ellise DAYNES (CAN)
Michelle OLEA RUIZ (MEX)
Precious BELL (USA)

76kg
Meiriele CHARAMBA (BRA)
Vianne ROULEAU (CAN)
Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)
Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Emelyn BAUTISTA (DOM)
Genesis REASCO (ECU)
Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX)
Aomi RIQUES MORALES (PER)
Kylie WELKER (USA)
Neirili BANGUERO MARTINEZ (VEN)