#OffTheMat

How'd Adar become Turkey's greatest women's wrestler ever?

By Eric Olanowski

COSIER-VEVEY (May 12) --- Yasemin ADAR (TUR) went #OffTheMat with United World Wrestling to talk about what it’s like being a history-making, barrier-breaking leader in women’s wrestling.

Adar discussed her introduction to the sport of wrestling and how it led to her becoming the most successful Turkish woman to ever lace up a pair of wrestling shoes. Her history-making feats include becoming the first woman from Turkey to win a medal at the Olympic Games (Tokyo), winning a gold medal at the World Championships (2017) and winning five European titles.

Adar also talked about the stress and pressure that comes along with her newly-appoint role as the Vice President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation.

#development

UWW, Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Wrestlers Shine at African Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (May 7) -- The African Championships in Alexandria, Egypt was another milestone in the United World Wrestling and Olympic Solidarity partnership.

U17, U20 and Senior African Championships were held from April 28 to May 2 and wrestlers with Olympic Solidarity scholarship shining on the mat. The tournament also saw participation of 143 wrestlers in the U17 age-group, making it one of the most highly participated U17 African Championships.

Recipients of the Olympic Solidarity scholarship won eight medals at the continental championships including two in Beach Wrestling.

The most successful wrestler was Kavelishimwe ABRAHAM (NAM) who won silver medal in the 59kg weight class of Women's Wrestling and then the same medal at 60kg in Beach Wrestling. Abraham also created history, becoming first-ever wrestler from Namibia to win silver in Women's Wrestling. She was also the first woman wrestler from Namibia to ever medal internationally when she won the silver medal at the U20 African Championships in 2023. She repeated in 2024 and last week she made history at the senior level.

Lec ANDE (CAF) also won a bronze medal in Women's Wrestling at 65kg. She later returned to Beach Wrestling in the same weight class.

Two more wrestlers won medals in Women's Wrestling. At the U20 level, Lynca NIYONKURU (BDI) won a bronze medal at 59kg while Foula KABA (GUI) managed to claim a silver medal at 57kg at the U17 level.

In Freestyle, Wotna NDOC (GBS) won a silver medal at 70kg while Raby BAPELEKIA (CGO) won a bronze medal at 65kg.