Award Season

2017 Men's Freestyle Matches of the Year

Friday, December 29, 2017 - 15:13 By Eric Olanowski

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The top three freestyle matches of 2017 include four Olympic champions who have acquired a combined eight world championships.

97kg World Championship GOLD:  Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) v. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)
The 97kg world final was arguably the most anticipated match-up of all time. The stage was set for two-time world champion and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) to take on two-time world champion and Olympic champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS). In addition to the individual title, the winner of the 97kg final determined the team race, as the USA and Russia were tied with 53 points. apiece.

Snyder’s takedown with 25 seconds left sealed the 97kg title, also clinching the United States’ first team title since 1995.

125kg World Championship GOLD:  Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) v. Taha AKGUL (TUR)
In the 125kg world finals, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) fell behind 4-0 to two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Taha AKGUL (TUR). Petriashvili went on to score eight unanswered points and took an 8-4 lead. Akgul regained the lead on criteria by putting together a stretch of four points. Petriashvili’s takedown with 25 seconds left gave him the 10-8 victory and his first world title.

61kg European Championship GOLD: Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) v. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS)
After two scoreless minutes, it was Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) who struck first, picking up a monstrous five-point throw. 2016 Olympic champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI’s (GEO) takedown and gut gave him the first lead of the match. Each wrestler would tack on an additional takedown, ending the match 10-9 in favor of Khinchegashvili.                                                         

#WrestleParis

IOC announces first AINs for 2024 Paris Olympics, 16 wrestlers eligible

Saturday, June 15, 2024 - 11:18 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 15) -- The International Olympic Committee on Saturday announced the eligible Individual Neutral Athletes for the Paris 2024 with 16 wrestlers making the cut for the Games.

The list of eligible athletes in the first group of sports that finished their qualifying process for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is according to the strict eligibility conditions established by the IOC Executive Board in December 2023.

The IOC EB established the Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel (AINERP) in March 2024 to evaluate the eligibility of each athlete with a Russian or Belarusian passport to participate in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and that of their support personnel. It delegated to the AINERP and the IOC administration the authority to invite an AIN, and their support personnel, to participate in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

The AINERP reviewed the athletes in accordance with the IOC EB decision and the principles established. The Panel was in a position to benefit from new information from various sources, in particular official lists of athletes affiliated with sports clubs of the military and the security forces published on official websites in Russia and Belarus.

Out of the 16 approved wrestlers, 10 AINs are holders of Russian passports while six are holders of Belarussian passports. During the United World Wrestling qualifying events, AINs with Russian passports earned 16 quotas and holders of Belarussian passports won 10 Paris quotas.

According to the IOC, the number of eligible athletes may be lower than the number of earned quota places. In such cases, these quota places will be reallocated to athletes from other NOCs in accordance with the qualification system of the respective IF.

The wrestlers who are deemed eligible will compete as AINs, without any flags or references to their respective countries. Additionally, the national anthems of Russia and Belarus will not be played in the event of medals being awarded to these athletes.

Participation in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is subject to the athlete’s acceptance of the individual invitation and signature of the Conditions of Participation applicable to all participants. The form contains a commitment to respect the Olympic Charter, including “the peace mission of the Olympic Movement”.

The following are the eligible wrestlers allowed to compete as AINs at the Olympic Games Paris 2024:

Eligible and invited athletes with a Russian passport:

Freestyle
Nachin MONGUSH
Shamil MAMEDOV
Arslan BAGAEV
Abdulla KURBANOV

Greco-Roman
Alan OSTAEV
Magomed MURTAZALIEV

Women's Wrestling
Natalya MALYSHEVA
Veronika CHUMIKOVA
Alina KASABIEVA
Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA

Eligible and invited athletes with a Belarusian passport:

Freestyle
Yahor AKULICH
Uladzislau KAZLOU

Greco-Roman
Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU
Dzmitri ZARUBSKI

Women's Wrestling
Viyaleta REBIKAVA
Krystsina SAZYKINA

Read the full IOC decision regarding Individual Neutral Athletes here.