Scientific Commission

Barbas Wins 2019 Rayko Petrov Award for Scientific Contributions

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 20) -- Dr. Ioannis Barbas has been awarded the 2019 Rayko Petrov Award for Scientific Contributions to Wrestling by the the International Network of Wrestling Researchers (INWR) and the Scientific Commission of United World Wrestling.

The award was presented in Komotini, Greece by Dr. David Curby, the Director of the INWR.

Following a mat career as a Greco-Roman wrestler for the Greek National Team, Ioannis began his early academic career in the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at the Democritus University of Thrace. 

Dr. Barbas continued his studies at the National Academy of State in Sofia where he studied with scholarship and gained his PhD in Physical Education in 2001 under the tutelage of Dr. Petrov.  

He's the chair of Wrestling at the Physical Education and Sports School of the Democritus University of Thrace. In 2007 he was one of the founding members and deputy director of the INWR and has helped organized 13 International Scientific Wrestling Forums and Symposiums.

Dr. Barbas has also presented ninety-six (96) papers at scientific conferences and symposia around the world including the "Wrestling+ Injury Prevention Program for Young Athletes" which was created in cooperation with his colleagues from the Rehabilitation Laboratory of Democritus University of Thrace.

He also created the “Barbas 3D Wrestling Dummy” and has written and translated four books.

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The Rayko Petrov Award is named in honor of-PROFESSOR RAYKO (1930 – 2011). Petrov was a coach, scientist and pedagogue who dedicated all his life to wrestling. Prof. Rayko Petrov’s works are numerous; hundreds of titles in scientific publications, textbooks, manuals, programs, sports regulations and over 80 books. The message in all these works is unambiguous: wrestling existed in the past, exists today and shall exist in the future as it is a cultural factor in human society. It is an integral part of traditions, folklore, literature and art. It is an integral part of people's lives. Prof. Rayko Petrov’s works reflected his personality – a brilliant scientist with outstanding intellectual capacity for whom coaching was not simply work, but rather a science and a way of forging human character.

#WrestleTirana

European Wrestling Championships 2026: Full Schedule, Where to Watch Live Streaming

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (April 17) -- European Championships 2026: How and where to watch Europe's biggest wrestling event live streaming.

European Championships will kick of April 20 with Greco-Roman in Tirana, Albania and run until April 26. A total of 30 gold medals will be on the line across Freestyle, Women's Wrestling and Greco-Roman events.

Where to Watch the European Wrestling Championships 2026 Live

Live streaming of the European Wrestling Championships 2026 will be on UWW’s official website and the official UWW App. Subscribe to UWW+ to watch it live.

Download UWW+ App on Apple's App Store | Google Play Store

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European Wrestling Championships 2026 Schedule

The European Championships will be wrestled over seven day from April 20 to April 26 with Greco-Roman kicking off the event, followed by Women's Wrestling and then Freestyle.

Full Schedule:

Day 1 - April 20, Monday

Greco-Roman Qualification Rounds: 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg - 10:30 hours
Greco-Roman Semifinals: 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg - 18:00 hours

Day 2 - April 21, Tuesday

Greco-Roman Repechage: 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg - 10:30 hours
Greco-Roman Qualification Rounds: 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg - 10:30 hours
Greco-Roman Semifinals: 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg - 16:45 hours
Greco-Roman Finals: 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg - 18:00 hours

Day 3 - April 22, Wednesday

Greco-Roman Repechages: 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg - 10:30 hours
Women's Wrestling Qualification Rounds: 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, 76kg - 10:30 hours
Women's Wrestling Semifinals: 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, 76kg - 16:45 hours
Greco-Roman Finals: 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg - 18:00 hours

Day 4 - April 23, Thursday

Women's Wrestling Repechage: 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, 76kg - 10:30 hours
Women's Wrestling Qualification Rounds: 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg - 10:30 hours
Women's Wrestling Semifinals: 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg - 16:45 hours
Women's Wrestling Finals: 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, 76kg - 18:00 hours

Day 5 - April 24, Friday

Women's Wrestling Repechage: 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg - 10:30 hours
Freestyle Qualification Rounds: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - 10:30 hours
Freestyle Semifinals: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - 16:45 hours
Women's Wrestling Finals: 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg - 18:00 hours

Day 6 - April 25, Saturday

Freestyle Repechage: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - 10:30 hours
Freestyle Qualification Rounds: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - 10:30 hours
Freestyle Semifinals: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - 16:45 hours
Freestyle Finals: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - 18:00 hours

Day 7 - April 26, Sunday

Freestyle Repechage: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - 15:00 hours onwards
Freestyle Finals: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - 17:00 hours onwards

European Wrestling Championships 2026 Wrestlers and Results

Click here for the full list of wrestlers competing at the European Championships 2026 in Tirana.

European Wrestling Championships Previews

Greco-Roman | Women's Wrestling | Freestyle | Download Wrestling Photos

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