#development

Austria hosts U14/U15 women's wrestling camp

By United World Wrestling Press

WALS-SIEZENHEIM, Austria (October 16) --- The UWW High Performance Training Center and the Austrian National Wrestling Center in the sports community of Wals-Siezenheim hosted an U14/U15 girls wrestling camp of the Austrian Wrestling Federation, where 14 young women's wrestlers and 6 coaches took part in the camp.

The camp was led by the women's junior national coach Arsen FEITL. In addition to seven hard and varied training sessions, there were also several alternative activities on the programme. Parallel to the training camp, an international freestyle training camp of the seniors took place at the Austrian National Wrestling center, which the young athletes followed with great interest and which presented them with wrestling at the highest international level during the training competitions.

GEROlympic champion Aline ROTTER-FOCKEN (GER) was in attendance for the U14/U15 women's wrestling camp in Austria (Photo: United World Wrestling)

In the camp of the UWW-Europe women's project, the German Olympic champion Aline ROTTER-FOCKEN was a guest as a role model for the young athletes. The enthusiasm of the girls was very high from the beginning and Aline made a lot of effort and communicated with everyone.

In addition to the training sessions with the young athletes, Aline did a workshop with the girls where she talked about her life, her career and her Olympic victory. Afterwards, the girls got autographs from her and had the opportunity to admire her Olympic gold medal and take photos with her. The young athletes were thrilled and overwhelmed. For the Austrian Wrestling Federation, it was the first one-week training camp in the age group of U14/U15 for girls and for next year, several more training camps in the age group U14/U15 are planned.

In summary, it was a very successful camp and the participation of Aline Rotter-Focken was very good and it was a great thing for all involved People. The project has been an absolute success and the Austrian National Federation hopes that the UWW Europe will also benefit from the project.

#WrestleParis

Techniques, safety, focus: UWW referees ready for Paris 2024

By United World Wrestling Press

ATHENS, Greece (August 1) -- United World Wrestling referees for Paris 2024 completed a three-day seminar from June 21 to 23, hosted by the Greek Wrestling Federation in Athens. The seminar was held to prepare for the Olympics, where referees will be ITOs.

The program consisted of self and group analysis of previous performance, theoretical study, mental preparedness, medical and safety training as well as on-the-mat training with Women's Wrestling, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestlers and coaching experts.

Led by the President of the UWW Athletes Commission, Arsen JULFALAKYAN, as well as coaches Alfred TER-MKRTCHYAN, Patrick NUDING and Amiran KARDANOV and wrestlers Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) and Christos KOUTSOURIDIS (GRE), referees analyzed common wrestling techniques and tactics in all styles and the proper philosophy and mechanisms referees should utilize when evaluating these situations.

Referee seminar

During these sessions, Julfalakyan also emphasized concerns and questions he receives from wrestlers and how we can improve the communication between athletes and referees when discussing the application of the rules.

Mental strength training sessions were led by Holger KNOLL, a trained mental strength coach specializing in athlete training. His sessions focused on how referees can improve their concentration and focus before, during and after competitions.

Babak SHADGAN, President of the UWW Medical Commission, provided medical and safety training, with focus on the role a referee plays in injury prevention.

In addition to the referee's instruction, Tristan MORAD, UWW Sports Department Coordinator, provided a presentation on the logistics and schedule of the wrestling of Paris 2024.

United World Wrestling and the UWW Referee Commission graciously thank the Greek Wrestling Federation and its President, Stergios LEONKIS, and UWW Bureau Vice President, Theodore HAMAKOS and numerous volunteers for their organization and hospitality in hosting the seminar.