#BackToWrestling

With Eye on Safety, Lithuania Returns to Practice Mats

Thursday, May 21, 2020 - 14:34 By United World Wrestling Press

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VILNIUS, Lithuania (May 22) -- With few cases of COVID-19 nationwide, Lithuania's top wrestlers are returning to the mat, albeit with safety precautions in place. 

Lithuania has only seen 1600 total cases of COVID-19 and 60 deaths. Despite the lower numbers the wrestling federation and the athletes are taking every precaution they can to ensure the health and safety of the wrestlers on the mat. The new guidelines for practice includes increased cleaning protocols, temperature checks, hand sanitization and face masks (for anyone not actively wrestling).

Athletes’ Commission member Mindaugas EZERSKIS mentioned the practices during Monday's Athlete Webinar with the commission and UWW President Nenad Lalovic. Ezerskis said the team is training during the week and taking weekends off with a focus on preparing for the Olympics and Olympic Qualification events. 

You can watch the full video, here.

#WrestleSantiago

WATCH LIVE: 2023 Pan-American Games, Day Two

Thursday, November 2, 2023 - 13:03 By Eric Olanowski

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SANTIAGO, Chile (November 2) --- The second day of wrestling at the Pan-American Games is underway. Freestyle and women’s wrestling will share the stage today, with the competition beginning for freestyle at 65kg 86kg and women’s wrestling at 50kg and 57kg.

In freestyle, reigning champion Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) will try to defend his title from the 2019 Lima Pan-American Games. Valdes Tobier sits on the opposite side of the 65kg bracket with America’s Nahshon GARRETT, and has a bye in his opening round match.

In the quarterfinals, he’ll meet Joseph SILVA (PUR), who also has an opening round bye. The winner of that match will meet either Albaro RUDECINDO (DOM) or Uber CUERO (COL).

In women’s wrestling, the biggest storyline to follow in this morning session will be the opening round match at 57kg between Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), a U23 world bronze medalists, and Tokyo Olympian Luisa VALVERDE (ECU). This is a match that most thought would be the gold-medal bout, but with random draws, fans get to see it in the first round.

- Watch Thursday’s action: Freestyle 65kg and 86kg // Women’s Wrestling 50kg and 57kg
- 2023 Pan-American Games brackets
- Upcoming bout order