#UWWAwards

Bonne, Bacsi and Gray Named Comeback Athletes of the Year

Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 16:43 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 22) -- United World Wrestling named Yowls BONNE-RODRIGUEZ (CUB), Peter BACSI (HUN), and Adeline GRAY (USA) the 2018 Comeback Athletes of the Year.

In freestyle, Cuba’s Yowls Bonne-Rodriguez won his first world title just days before his 35th birthday. Bonne finally obtained the elusive world gold medal after three previous attempts, scoring come-from-behind wins in the quarterfinals and finals.

In the quarterfinals, Bonne trailed Iran’s Mohammadbagher YAKHKESHI by two points with five seconds left when he hit a four-point inside trip and stole the match, 10-8.

Then, in the finals, Bonne trailed Russia’s Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV  2-0 before scoring a massive five-point move, which ultimately catapulted him to the top of the podium with a 5-5 criteria win.

This was Bonne's third world medal, previously finishing up the 2014 and 2017 World Championships with bronze medals.

Peter Bacsi, the 35-year-old Hungarian, won his first world championship since 2014 earning himself this year's Greco-Roman Comeback Athlete of the Year.

Basci trailed Turkey’s Emrah KUS 3-0 in the 82kg gold medal bout but scored four unanswered points to give the host nation their first and only gold medal of the Budapest World Championships.

The 2018 World Championships were rumored to be Bacsi’s last, but after his surprise victory he didn't rule out the 2019 Astana World Championships, though he did confirm he will not be making a run for Hungary’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic team.

Adeline Gray (USA) was named the women’s wrestling Comeback Athlete of the Year after returning from a year absence to win her fourth world title.

The American’s impressive road to her fourth world title went through reigning Olympic champion Erica WIEBE (CAN), and reigning world champion, Yasmin ADAR (TUR).

In the semifinals, Gray edged Wiebe, 3-1, and wrapped up the gold-medal bout early with a 13-1 win over Adar, winning the gold medal in a weight class that featured eight previous world champions.

The next award to be released will be the Outstanding Performances of the Year, which will come out on Thursday.

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 GR & WW Day 3 Highlights

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - 08:10 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 22) -- The U23 World Championships third day will see Greco-Roman action in 60kg and 82kg while Women's Wrestling in 50kg, 72kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

14:05: Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) looks in good form as she reaches the semifinals at 50kg with a 10-0 win over Nohalis LOYO JIMENEZ (VEN).

13:55: Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL) takes out Alperen BERBER (TUR) at 82kg. Tabaev was down 4-1 but got the par terre in the second period and scored a suplex which was scored two points as he led 4-4 on criteria. Tabaev countered Berber for another takedown later for a 6-4 lead. Berber, visibly frustrated being down, is docked two points for aggressive wrestling. Tabaev defends his lead to win 8-4.

13:35: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) hits a double leg attack to get the first four points on her match against Haticenur SARI (TUR) at 72kg. Then gets the half nelson for a fall and move on to the semifinals.

13:25: It all happened in the first period but Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) gets the fall over Greili BENCOSME CARVAJAL (CUB) at 50kg despite trailing 7-5. Carvajal used the gut-wrench to lead 7-2 but Kerymova scored a reversal and then got the Cuban in a danger position before securing the fall, seven seconds before the break.

13:22: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) is a menace! He goes front headlock and Omar SATAYEV (KAZ) with two big throws and he leads 7-0 before he pressures Satayev to give up a takedown and Gutu into the semifinals at 82kg.

13:15: Off the whistle and Koto GOMI (JPN) hits a body lock for four against former U20 world champion Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM). Gomi then tries an arm throw but blocked by Aghajanyan. Both wrestlers move out of zone in par terre but Armenia challenges for a point. Challenge is lost which makes Gomi's lead 5-0. Aghajanyan scores a takedown to make it 5-2 but Gomi answers with a stepout. A takedown from Gomi to start the second period as he extends his lead to 8-2. Gomi blocks an attempted throw from Aghajanyan and gets two more points to win 10-2 at 60kg.

13:10: Kylie WELKER (USA) with a five! She moves behind Nyla BURGESS (CAN) and performs a suplex to to get the five points. Three turns and it's all over as she wins 11-0.

12:55: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) with a massive comeback against Svenja JUNGO (SUI) at 50kg. Jimenez was down 6-0 before scoring two takedowns to make it 6-4. She then hit a four-pointer to take a 8-6 lead. Jungo with a few fake shots but Jiminez with an easy 12-6 win.

12:40: Greili BENCOSME CARVAJAL (CUB) hands Minoriho YONEHARA (JPN) at 6-3 defeat at the 50kg. Three different takedowns by Carvajal while Yonehara could only manage points in the last minute.

12:35: Returning silver medalist Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) and Samandar BOBONAZAROV (UZB) exchange four-pointers but Belelashvili breaks Bobonazarov in the second period to beat him 10-7 at 82kg.

12:30: Alperen BERBER (TUR) survives an onslaught from Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) in their 82kg bout to win 5-3. Aliyev started the second period with takedown and then also got the par terre position but failed to score any points as Berber defended his lead.

12:20: U17 world champion Yuqi LIU (CHN) manages to hold off Diksha MALIK (IND), 9-3, in her opening bout at 72kg. Liu has medals at all age-group World Championships but is chasing her first at U23 level.

12:10: Alexandru GUTU (MDA) hits a massive give on Reon KAKEGAWA (JPN) in the 82kg bout! Gutu is looking for his second U23 world title. 

12:00: After another round of repechage, wrestling continues with 1/16 finals. At 72kg, Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) hits her trademark four-pointer to pin Iryna ZABLOTSKA (UKR).

11:15: Sviatlana KATENKA (UWW) locked Hanny KUMARI (IND) with a double arm lock and threw her for four before securing the fall with three seconds left. Katenka was down 4-2 with 10 seconds left when she went for the move.

11:10: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) starts her campaign at 50kg with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Asmar JANKURTARAN (AZE). Pudova is one of the favorites for gold at this weight class

11:00: Minoriho YONEHARA (JPN) was more cautious of Andela VASILJEVIC (SRB) in their 50kg match as Vasilkevic did look like novice. Yonehara works five takedowns to beat Vasiljevic

10:45: Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) hits a takedown in the final 25 seconds to see off Abolfazl MOHMEDI (IRI) at 82kg. Mohmedi enjoyed a 3-1 lead and seemed headed towards a win. However, Abdiiev dragged him down for a takedown and then got a stepout as well to win 4-3.

10:30: Returning champion Kylie WELKER (USA) with a quick technical superiority win over U20 world silver medalist PRIYA (IND) at 76kg. Welker is a recent senior World Championships bronze medalist

10:20: After the repechage bouts, we are straight into the qualifications in GR 60kg, 82kg and WW 50kg, 72kg and 76kg.