#WrestleAcapulco

Burroughs, Dake, Hildebrandt Headline Stacked Pan-American C'ship Entry List

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - 13:20 By Eric Olanowski

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ACAPULCO, Mexico, (April 26) --- The Pan-American Championships are headed to the beautiful Mexican seaport city of Acapulco next week, May 5-8. The red-hot entry list features 285 athletes from 20 different nations – including nine champions from last year’s Guatemala City Pan-Am Championships.

The stacked women’s wrestling side of the event will feature returning champs Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) and Kayla MIRACLE (USA). Oslo world bronze medalists Samantha STEWART (CAN) and Forrest MOLINARI (USA) will also in action.

Outside of the established senior-level talent, rising stars and 2021 U23 world champions Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) and Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) are looking to make some noise on the senior level. They are entered into the competition at 55kg and 62kg, respectively.

In Greco-Roman, Benjamin PROVISOR (USA), Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON) and Leo Dalis SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM) are the trio of returning champs heading to Mexico.

Despite Cuba sitting out some of their top-tier talent on their Greco-Roman squad, superstars Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) and Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) are planning to return to the mat in Mexico.

Borrero, the two-time world champion and Rio Olympic gold medalist, will be lacing his boots up for the first time since the Tokyo Olympic Games. After dominating his way gold at the 2019 World Championships, the Cuban was favored to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics. But after battling COVID twice, Borrero lacked his ’19 strength and conditioning and failed to medal in Japan.

Pino Hinds, the ’19 world runner-up, will be jumping back into the Cuban lineup after taking a bench seat due to the return of four-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB).

Headliners Kyle DAKE (USA) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) round out the list of last year’s gold medalists heading to Mexico.

Dake, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, is set to return to action for the first time since winning his third consecutive world title. He’ll compete at the Olympic weight of 74kg.

Snyder, the seven-time world and Olympic medalist, will step on the mat for the third time this season. He opened the year with a gold at the Ivan Yariguin. He’ll wrestle at 97kg. He defeated J'den COX (USA), who'll be in USA's lineup at 92kg, in a best-two-of-three series, two-matches-to-none.

Other freestyle guys to pay attention to are reigning world champions Thomas GILMAN (USA) and Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) Gilman will wrestle at the Olympic weight of 57kg, while Burroughs and Cox will wrestle at the non-Olympic weights of 79kg and 92kg, respectively.

All the action from Mexico starts April 5 and can be followed live on www.uww.org.

Three-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) will be looking to defend his 74kg Pan-Am title. He's entered at 74kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

57kg
Bryan Lucas DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA (BRA)
Darthe CAPELLAN (CAN)
Pedro Alfredo GALAZ PAVEZ (CHI)
Oscar Eduardo TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
Alexei ALVAREZ BLANCO (CUB)
Juan Rubelin RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM)
Guesseppe Ricardo REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Edwin Alexi SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Brandon Jesus ESCOBAR AMADOR (HON)
Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX)
Enrique Armando HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Darian Toi CRUZ (PUR)
Thomas Patrick GILMAN (USA)
Joshua Andrew RODRIGUEZ (USA)
Pedro Jesus MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

61kg
Logan James SLOAN (CAN)
Pedro Bryan FLORES SALAZAR (MEX)
Joseph Andres SILVA (PUR)
Daton Duain FIX (USA)
Zachary R ESPOSITO (USA)

65kg
Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Dom Juan MARTINS FERREIRA (BRA)
Jacob Tizoc ALEXANDER TORRES (CAN)
Andre Renato QUISPE FAJARDO (CHI)
Wber Euclides CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Cristian Damian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB)
Albaro RUDECINDO CAMACHO (DOM)
Mauricio Javier SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU)
Jonnathan Alejandro PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Cristian Bernardo SANTIAGO PEREZ (MEX)
Sixto Miguel AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR)
Julian Andres PEREZ CONDE (URU)
Joseph Christopher MC KENNA (USA)
Adonys Josue MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

70kg
Cristian Andres KARLIKOWSKI (ARG)
Vinicius DA SILVA JOAQUIM (BRA)
Emmanuel Olufemi OLAPADE (CAN)
Alexis OLVERA MAGALLANES (MEX)
Jhon Wilmer CHUNGA CARRENO (PER)
Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA)

74kg
Cesar BORDEAUX REGO ALVAN (BRA)
Jasmit Singh PHULKA (CAN)
Leon Juan Pablo PERALTA LANAS (CHI)
Andres Alexander RAMIREZ MEJIAS (COL)
Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB)
Julio Rafael RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Sergio Peter GODOY VITE (ECU)
Enrique Josue PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Diego Antonio SANDOVAL ZARCO (MEX)
Angel Eduardo CORTES BONILLA (PAN)
Pablo Dario VERA INSFRAN (PAR)
Antony Gaston IPARRAGUIRRE PEREYRA (PER)
Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR)
Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA)
Anthony Jose MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

79kg
Samuel Jacob BARMISH (CAN)
Juan Sebastian RIVERA GARCIA (COL)
Miguel Angel ORNELAS REYNOSO (MEX)
Raymin Mir HOSSEINI (PAR)
Victor J SANTOS ACOSTA (PUR)
Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA)

86kg
Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG)
Andrew Gonzalo VERA JACKSON (BOL)
Giovanni DE OLIVEIRA GAION PIAZZA (BRA)
Taran William GORING (CAN)
Eduardo Ivan GAJARDO MENESES (CHI)
Carlos Arturo IZQUIERDO MENDEZ (COL)
Lazaro Daniel HERNANDEZ LUIS (CUB)
Jorge Klever ANDY TIWI (ECU)
Christian Alejandro ANGUIANO FLORES (MEX)
Ethan Adrian RAMOS (PUR)
Zahid VALENCIA (USA)
Pedro Francisco CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN)

92kg
Cassio BARBOSA DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Jeremy Adam POIRIER (CAN)
Cristian Leopoldo SANCHEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Jden Michael Tbory COX (USA)
Gilberto Segundo AYALA RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

97kg
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Huberth Efrain SOLIZ MAYSER (BOL)
Ailton BRITO ROCHA (BRA)
Nishan Preet Singh RANDHAWA (CAN)
Matias Ignacio URIBE SEPULVEDA (CHI)
Miller MONDRAGON ARBOLEDA (COL)
Maxwell Lemar LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB)
Luis Miguel PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Esdras Carlos LOPEZ PEREZ (MEX)
Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)
Cristian Jose SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Catriel Pehuen MURIEL (ARG)
Gabriel DE SOUSA SILVA (BRA)
Amarveer DHESI (CAN)
Diego Jesus ALMENDRAS RODRIGUEZ (CHI)
Jhoan Andres OCORO PALOMINO (COL)
Ibrain TORRES ESPINOSA (CUB)
Elison ADAMES GARCIA (DOM)
Brandon Eloin ANGUIANO FLORES (MEX)
Charles Zachary MERRILL (PUR)
Nicholas Edward GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
Jose Daniel DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) will return to the mat at the Pan-American Championships. He'll compete at 67kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Gemerson MOURA DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Brandon Jesus ESCOBAR AMADOR (HON)
Axel Andre SALAS ESQUIVEL (MEX)
Brady Andrew KOONTZ (USA)

60kg
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Pedro Maximiliano GUTIERREZ URRUTIA (CHI)
Dicther Hans TORO CASTANEDA (COL)
Leonardo HERRERA HECHEVARRIA (CUB)
Maikol JOSEFA (DOM)
Antonio Jordan RUIZ MORA (ECU)
Emerson Isaias FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Samuel GURRIA VIGUERAS (MEX)
Joao Marco BENAVIDES ROCHABRUN (PER)
Randon Drew MIRANDA (USA)
Raiber Jose RODRIGUEZ OROZCO (VEN)

63kg
Jose Alberto RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Samuel Lee JONES (USA)

67kg
Mauricio Alejandro LOVERA (ARG)
Kenedy Anderson MORAES PEDROSA (BRA)
Cristobal Alonso TORRES NUNEZ (CHI)
Julian Stiven HORTA ACEVEDO (COL)
Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB)
Enyer Manuel FELICIANO (DOM)
Cristhian Alberto RIVAS CASTRO (ECU)
Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Jose Alejandro VARELA GARCIA (GUA)
Diego Alberto MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX)
Lisandro Manuel CABRERA ORTIZ (PAR)
Nilton Gonzalo Marcos SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Hayden Daniel TUMA (USA)
Neiser MARIMON HIDALGO (VEN)

72kg
Horacio Oscar MIRANDA (ARG)
Cristian Estuardo MEJIA TEPEN (GUA)
Edsson Rafael OLMOS GUTIERREZ (MEX)
Angel Eduardo CORTES BONILLA (PAN)
Patrick Harrison SMITH (USA)

77kg
Jerome Kamel HOYTE (BAR)
Cristian Alberto NOVA ROCA (BOL)
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
John YEATS (CAN)
Diego Alonso MORENO OLGUIN (CHI)
Jair Alexis CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)
Luis Alfredo DE LEON (DOM)
Daniel Alejandro PINARGOTE SORNOZA (ECU)
David Elias CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Emmanuel Alexis BENITEZ CASTRO (MEX)
Alvis Albino ALMENDRA JIMENEZ (PAN)
Raymin Mir HOSSEINI (PAR)
Ryan CUBAS CASTILLO (PER)
Ravaughn Richard Ravelle PERKINS (USA)
Daniel David BELLO VEGA (VEN)

82kg
Michael Hendson NASCIMENTO DA SILVA LIMA (BRA)
Ioannis NARLIDIS (CAN)
Nestor Joaquin TAFUR BARRIOS (COL)
Reinier JIMENEZ TERRY (GUA)
Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX)
Benjamin Errol PROVISOR (USA)

87kg
Andre Luiz RAMOS PINTO (BRA)
Guillermo Andres GONZALEZ SEPULVEDA (CHI)
Carlos Andres MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL)
Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
Johan Antonio BATISTA (DOM)
Ariel Andres ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Alfonso Antonio LEYVA YEPEZ (MEX)
Pool Edinson AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Richard James CARLSON (USA)
Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Igor Fernando ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA)
Eduardo Ivan GAJARDO MENESES (CHI)
Carlos Andres VALOR DOMINGUEZ (COL)
Juan Luis CONDE IBANEZ (CUB)
Carlos Alberto ADAMES PALMER (DOM)
Jean Paul NAZARENO NAZARENO (ECU)
Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)
Luis Gerardo RIVERA ALVARADO (MEX)
Tracy Gangelo HANCOCK (USA)

130kg
Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA)
Jacob Fredrick PHILLIPS (CAN)
Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Crhistian David BRAVO VALENCIA (COL)
Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Leo Dalis SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM)
Christian Rafael CHAJON GARCIA (GUA)
Gino Tanislado AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Paul Baltazar MORALES BOJORQUEZ (MEX)
Edgardo Juan LOPEZ MORELL (PUR)
Tanner Richard FARMER (USA)
Moises Salvador PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN)

USAOlympic bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDY headlines the women's wrestling entries. She'll compete at 50kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Patricia Alejandra BERMUDEZ (ARG)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Madison Bianca PARKS (CAN)
Margarita Priscila GONZALEZ GREZ (CHI)
Alisson Camila CARDOZO REY (COL)
Yoannia PEREZ  NUNEZ (CUB)
Fabiana DIAZ (DOM)
Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Laura Gabriela PEREDO TORRES (MEX)
Rita Fatima ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX)
Yorlenis Milagros MORAN SANCHEZ (PAN)
Thalia Jihann MALLQUI PECHE (PER)
Shammilka Alondra MIRANDA DIAZ (PUR)
Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)
Mariana Raimary ROJAS DIAZ (VEN)

53kg
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN)
Javiera Belen ORTEGA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Sandy Yalixa PARRA PARRA (COL)
Amanda HERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Anny Guillermina RAMIREZ PEREZ (DOM)
Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU)
Karla Abigail ACOSTA MARTINEZ (MEX)
Lourdes Veronica GRENNO MAUNE (PAR)
Nathaly Marilu HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Gabriela Nicole RAMOS DIAZ (PUR)
Dominique Olivia PARRISH (USA)
Betzabeth Angelica ARGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN)

55kg
Lislly LIMA DA SILVA (BRA)
Karla Lorena GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN)
Lucia Yamileth YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU)
Brenda Esmeralda Isay FERNANDEZ SALAZAR (MEX)
Nadia Comanecci TRUJILLANO LA ROSA (PER)
Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA)

57kg
Camila Agustina AMARILLA (ARG)
Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Alexandria Rebekkah TOWN (CAN)
Antonia Alejandra VALDES ARRIAGADA (CHI)
Tatiana HURTADO LERMA (COL)
Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB)
Maria Marilin GONZALES DE LA ROSA (DOM)
Heidy Katherine ALCIVAR MOREIRA (ECU)
Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX)
Nes Marie RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR)
Mayra Alejandra PARRA ALVAREZ (VEN)

59kg
Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
Ameyalli Sayil JESSEL ROJAS (MEX)
Xochitl Citalli MOTA PETTIS (USA)

62kg
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN)
Javiera Fernanda ROCO PARDO (CHI)
Andrea Yurani GONZALEZ GONGORA (COL)
Yolanda Mercedes CORDERO VARGAS (CUB)
Gloria Saray SEGURA FEBLES (DOM)
Leonela Aleyda AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU)
Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX)
Ashley Chantelle ZARATE CAMPBELL (PAN)
Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA)
Astrid Paola MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

65kg
Miki Elizabeth ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
Saidy Lorena CHAVEZ FIGUEROA (HON)
Atzimba Morelia LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX)
Forrest Ann MOLINARI (USA)

68kg
Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA)
Kayla Mary BEDNARCIK BRODNER (CAN)
Isidora Romina Manuela DIAZ MARTINEZ (CHI)
Paula Andrea MONTOYA GARCIA (COL)
Hangelen LLANES ECHEVARRIA (CUB)
Yessica Coraima OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM)
Silvia Esperanza HERNANDEZ GONZALES (GUA)
Ambar Michell GARNICA FLORES (MEX)
Yanet Ursula SOVERO NINO (PER)
Ginamarie SANTIAGO AYALA (PUR)
Alara Lea BOYD (USA)
Soleymi Antonieta CARABALLO HERNANDEZ (VEN)

72kg
Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Taylor Ann FOLLENSBEE (CAN)
Maria Guadalupe GARCIA BAUTISTA (MEX)
Skylar Allison Elizabeth GROTE (USA)

76kg
Linda Marilina MACHUCA (ARG)
Ruthy Hellen PINHAL DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Justina Renay DI STASIO (CAN)
Nataly Maria OVANDO ROJAS (CHI)
Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL)
Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Emelyn Anyelina BAUTISTA CORCINO (DOM)
Genesis Rosangela REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Luz Maria HERNANDEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Diana Luisa Victoria CRUZ ARROYO (PER)
Dymond Precious GUILFORD (USA)
Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN)

Obituary

Remembering Saitiev: Master on mat who inspired many

Monday, April 7, 2025 - 12:53 By Vinay Siwach

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 7) -- Buvaisar SAITIEV was an unknown before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. And after that he became the legend. 

At 21, Saitiev thrilled the crowd and displayed techniques that the world thought were impossible to execute at 74kg. Saitiev would go on to win two more Olympic golds -- 2004 and 2008 -- as he became the best 74kg wrestler out there. A three-time Olympic champion, six-time world champion, and an inspiration to the wrestling world, Saitiev passed away earlier this month at the age of 49.

"Biggest and greatest wrestler" - Nenad LALOVIC, UWW President

Brandon SLAY (USA) was in that crowd at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The 21-year-old was amazed what he saw. He watched another 21-year-old win the gold medal.

"It was an honor to watch him in Atlanta," Slay said. "Then study him and compete against him four years later."

Believe it or not, that was the first time Russia won Olympic gold medal at 74kg, a weight class now synonymous with their domination, both at senior and youth level.

Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS)Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

At the time, the U.S. was focused on defending its dominance at 74kg, with Iran also challenging for supremacy, while Saitiev had yet to make his mark internationally. The Olympic history saw wrestlers from Turkiye, Japan, the United States and Korea win gold medal in this weight class. So when Saitiev arrived, he was the underdog. In the 1996 Atlanta final, he defeated the defending Olympic champion Park JANG SOON and ushered an era of Russian dominance at this weight class.

It took a once-in-a-lifetime talents like Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) to deny the gold medals to Russia in 2012 and 2016 respectively. However, Russia is now at top. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (ROC) won gold medals at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships, 2020 Tokyo Olympics [held in 2021] before winning it again in 2023 and Russian transfer to Uzbekistan and Saitiev's student Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) won in 2024.

A little insight on how the U.S. discovered Saitiev is provided in the the documentary 'Slaying Saitiev". Pat SMITH (USA), who was wrestling at the 1995 Ivan Yarygin Memorial, recalls when he first saw Saitiev, his opponent in the final.

Saitiev had not wrestled senior-level yet internationally and was till three months away from winning his first World Championships gold. So Smith and his team thought they are favorites to win the gold medal at the Yarygin.

"I go out on the mat, I see Saitiev, the fight starts," Smith recalls in the documentary. "And right away, right away I thought: “This is the best they have.” Because the way he was punching, his movement, the way he was flowing from one position to another... he was simply unstoppable. I did some takedowns, but in the end he gave me a pretty good beating. I come off the mat, Bruce is standing there, I say: “You were wrong. That guy from the semi-finals wasn’t the best. This is the best . ” – “I didn’t even know who it was!” – “Now you know. Buvaisar Saitiev.” And two months later he won the world championship. The best wrestler I’ve ever wrestled. There’s no question about that. The best.

"He looked like a librarian, skinny, gangly. But the positions he scores from, the way he moves you around the mat... I've never wrestled anyone like that again."

Smith’s observation wasn’t just a fleeting comment. It captured the essence of what made Saitiev so formidable on the mat. Saitiev, standing at 6 feet, defied convention of a tall wrestler standing upright. He would engage in ties which forced his opponents to shoot while he was in control. Saitiev would counter rather easily and score.

Saitiev used to engage with his opponents and yet they found it extremely difficult to score a takedown on him.

Brandon SLAY (USA)Brandon SLAY (USA) over Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS) at the 2000 Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

Slay, who defeated Saitiev at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, had to study Saitiev for years before breaking through in their Olympic meeting.

"The greatness of Saitiev came from how extremely hard it was to finish takedowns on him," Slay says. "Most of the time when people attacked Saitiev, either he scored or no one scored. And, most of the time when he attacked, he scored. That makes for a very challenging opponent to beat, which is why he rarely lost. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to wrestle the greatest wrestler of all time."

Saitiev had it all. Snapdowns, feints, two-on-one, underhooks, overhooks, defense, attack, chain wrestling, innovations, and techniques that made him score points from any positions. So many options to immobilize his opponents who would eventually break down.

On March 3, the day he passed away, the internet saw outpouring tributes to his legacy. But some of the most shared posts were his clips from various bouts on his career. A few wrote how they began wrestling because of him, others explained why he inspired them to adapt and study wrestling.

Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS)Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS). (Photo: United World Wrestling)

2008 Olympic champion Henry CEJUDO (USA) called him the "greatest" and he was a 'fanboy.'

"A man that was poetry in motion at its finest, and in my opinion, the greatest athlete who has ever ever lived or walked on planet Earth," Cejudo wrote on his Instagram. "I would never fanboy over anybody but Buvaisar. I was so honored of the times that I did get a chance to hang out as I had a permanent smile the whole day. Thank you for all the great years that you gave the wrestling community and inspiring millions of people across the world. I can honestly say without Saitiev I wouldn’t be the wrestler that I am today."

John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA), a wrestler known for his crafty moves and detailing of wrestling, tributed his passion to Saitiev, who himself was known as a wizard on the mat for his moves.

"Buvaisar Saitiev was how I fell in love with the art of wrestling, I wanted to be like him," Diakomihalis wrote on X. "His innovation and passion for improvement were some of the staples of how I approached learning the sport or learning anything in my life."

Saitiev had that impact on people. Jamalov, who won the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medal, was Saitiev's student. Jamalov said that Saitiev was family.

"His approach was very subtle and deep, he always knew how to choose the right and necessary words for support," Jamalov said. "Every meeting with him was unforgettable and every word of his was unforgettable. Outside of wrestling, he was very caring and compassionate towards me, he was always worried about my injuries and operations."

While Jamalov was his student, Saitiev never backed from helping any wrestler. He 'couldn't stop himself from talk to even strangers if he had a broken ear.'

 

After Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) lost her first-ever international bout to VINESH (IND) in Paris, she talked to Saitiev who had lost in Sydney after winning Atlanta but still won two more Olympic golds.

"I had a video call with him right after the Paris Olympics," Susaki said. "Like me, he didn't do well in his second Olympics. But he won gold medals in two more Olympics. I vowed to him that I would win gold medals in two more Olympics like him to become a legend.

"He also taught me that to become a legend, I should never lose again. I owe it all to him that I was able to stand up strong after losing. Thanks to him, I decided to keep fighting to win two more Olympic gold medals. And I vowed to become a legendary wrestler like him. I won't lose anymore. I will keep winning. Your message is a treasure for my life. He is a legend and his wrestling has always fascinated me. His matches are always amazing to watch and I think he is the most talented wrestler in history."

This off the mat personality of Saitiev resonated with many, even with people outside of wrestling. He was humble, witty and respectful.

Sports Express journalist Yuri GOLYSHAK recalled his moments with Saitiev who was part of many reception after his 2008 Beijing gold medal. 

"I was sure that we would meet again. Saitiev had enough stories for ten interviews," Golyshak wrote in his tribute. "I even imagined how it would be - not in a hurry, like after Beijing. Not in a car, no. Everything will be different. I will come to his home in Khasavyurt. It will be a fairy tale. We will go to the mountains. I will understand something that I did not understand before, in this amazing, invincible man. And in life in general."

Saitiev's influence transcends mere records and titles. His tactics on the mat just when the internet era arrived gave insights into a wrestler may only be imagined. He passed on that mastery to a special few who remember him as a mentor, inspiration and the greatest ever.