#WrestleParis

Lopez announces comeback, eyes historic fifth Olympic gold

By Eric Olanowski

POREC, Croatia (May 23) -- The rumors are in the rearview and it’s official.

Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), the Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympic champion, officially announced his return to wrestling to chase a record-setting fifth Olympic gold medal.

The Cuban superheavy is widely regarded as the Greatest of all Time, but he’s not interested in sharing a page in the history books with anyone else. He wants all the glory for himself.

"I’m coming back to wrestle at the Paris Olympic Games. I want to become the first wrestler to win five Olympic gold medals,” Lopez told United World Wrestling on Monday night.

Lopez, flanked by fellow Tokyo Olympic champions Luis ORTA (CUB) and Zhan BELENIUK (UKR), made the announcement from the international training camp in Poreč, Croatia, where he’s beginning his Paris preparations.

Lopez, who’ll be 41 years old this August, hung up his wrestling boots shortly after he won his fourth Olympic gold medal. But “The Kid” has since rekindled his desire to stand alone in wrestling history. He’s currently tied with Kaori ICHO (JPN) (who officially retired in 2020) as the only pair of wrestlers to win four Olympic titles.

A win for Lopez in Paris would also move him into the top spot as wrestling’s oldest Olympic champion -- dethroning Adolf LINDFORS (FIN) (41 years 6 months 12 days), Arsen MEKOKISHVILI (URS) (40 years 3 months 11 days) and Icho (32 years 2 months 4 days) --who hold the Greco-Roman, freestyle and women’s wrestling records, respectively.

The Cuban Giant will wrestle on August 6 at the 2024 Olympic Games and will be two weeks shy of his 42nd birthday, which would beat Lindfors’ record by nearly six months.

Lopez’s attention now turns to getting his massive body back down to the Olympic weight of 130kg/286 lbs.

“Right now, he has to focus on getting his weight under control, but I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” a source close to Lopez said. “He currently weighs 145kg/319 lbs. That seems like a big weight cut, but his body was in the same position heading into the Tokyo Olympics and he outscored everyone 24-0.”

For the time being, as Lopez gets his weight under control, Oscar PINO (CUB) will remain Cuba’s 130kg Greco-Roman starter.

Pino will compete at the 2023 World Championships, where he’ll have to qualify Cuba for the 2024 Olympic Games -- similar to the 2019 World Championships where he qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games with his runner-up finish. He’ll again relinquish his spot and take a seat on the bench as Lopez chases Olympic history.

To access real-time match center data, get regular updates on tournaments and receive all the latest wrestling news in a flash. download #TheHomeOfWrestling, United World Wrestling's mobile app today on Apple Itunes or Google Play.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2025 Ranking Series Entry List

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 21) -- The first Ranking Series of the year will kick off in Zagreb, Croatia on February 5 at the Zagreb Arena.

The tournament will also mark the beginning of the new season and a new Olympic cycle for wrestlers with Ranking Series points up for grabs.

Wrestling will be on UWW+ live on uww.org and the UWW app. Follow UWW on Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube.

Freestyle

57kg
Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
Luka GVINJILIA (GEO)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
RAHUL (IND)
AMAN (IND)
Ahora KHATERI (IRI)
Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX)
Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB)
Kamil KERYMOV (UKR)
Daniel DESHAZER (USA)
Brandon COURTNEY (USA)
Spencer LEE (USA)

61kg
Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE)
Joshua KRAMER (ECU)
Arman ELOYAN (FRA)
Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO)
Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO)
PANKAJ (IND)
Ahmad JAVAN (IRI)
Ebrahim KHARI (IRI)
Reza Hossein MOMENI (IRI)
Leomid COLESNIC (MDA)
Andrii DZHELEP (UKR)
Nahshon GARRETT (USA)
Michael MCGEE (USA)

65kg
Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE)
Ayub MUSAEV (BEL)
Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)
Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO)
Nika ZAKASHVILI (GEO)
Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO)
Zoltan MIZSEI (HUN)
SIDDHARTH (IND)
Yasin REZAEI (IRI)
Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI)
Abbas EBRAHIM (IRI)
Austin GOMEZ (MEX)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)
Joseph MCKENNA (USA)
Evan HENDERSON (USA)

70kg
Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE)
Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO)
Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
Anuj KUMAR (IND)
Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI)
Sina KHALILI (IRI)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Patryk OLENCZYN (POL)
Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR)
James GREEN (USA)
Jarrett JACQUES (USA)
Alec PANTALEO (USA)

74kg
Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE)
Vedran LUKETIN (CRO)
Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
JAIDEEP (IND)
Ali REZAEI (IRI)
Andrzej SOKALSKI (POL)
Szymon WOJTKOWSKI (POL)
Kamil RYBICKI (POL)
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
David CARR (USA)

79kg
Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Otari ADEISHVILI (GEO)
AMIT (IND)
Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI)
Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
Evan WICK (USA)
Rocco WELSH (USA)

86kg
Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Mukul DAHIYA (IND)
Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI)
Matthew FINESILVER (ISR)
Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA)
Krzysztof SADOWIK (POL)
Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR)
Zahid VALENCIA (USA)
Trent HIDLAY (USA)
Nathan JACKSON (USA)

92kg
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
Iuza TSERTSVADZE (GEO)
Krisztian ANGYAL (HUN)
SACHIN (IND)
Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI)
Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR)
Benjamin HONIS (ITA)
Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA)
Cezary SADOWSKI (POL)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Aaron BROOKS (USA)
Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA)

97kg
Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO)
Richard VEGH (HUN)
SAHIL (IND)
Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Jonathan AIELLO (USA)

125kg
Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)
DINESH (IND)
Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI)
Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)
Trent HILLGER (USA)
Hayden ZILLMER (USA)
Mason PARRIS (USA)

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and Kennedy BLADES (USA) at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (AIN)
Kamila BARBOSA (BRA)
Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA)
Shivanee PAWAR (IND)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)

55kg
Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN)
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Samantha STEWART (CAN)
Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA)
Gerda TEREK (HUN)
Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN)
JYOTI (IND)
MEENAKSHI (IND)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA)
Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)

57kg
Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN)
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN)
TAPSYA (IND)

59kg
Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE)
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
Erika BOGNAR (HUN)
ANJLI (IND)
Mariana CHERDIVARA (MDA)
Michaela BECK (USA)
Sofia MACALUSO (USA)

62kg
Amina TANDELOVA (AIN)
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Nikolett SZABO (HUN)
Yasmine SOLIMAN (HUN)
Bhagyashree FAND (IND)
Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA)

65kg
Milla ANDELIC (CRO)
Eniko ELEKES (HUN)
MANISHA (IND)

68kg
Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Karolina POK (HUN)
RADHIKA (IND)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Kennedy BLADES (USA)

72kg
Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE)
Veronika VILK (CRO)
Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN)
PRIYANKA (IND)
Skylar GROTE (USA)

76kg
Valeriia TRIFONOVA (AIN)
Veronika NYIKOS (HUN)
PRIYA (IND)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Yelena MAKOYED (USA)

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)Paris Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) is entered at 87kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari) 

Greco-Roman

55kg
Elmir ALIYEV (AZE)
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)
Peter TOTOK (HUN)
LALIT (IND)
Mahdi AHADI (IRI)
Artiom DELEANU (MDA)
Alexander CUEVAS (SGP)
Andrew KOONTZ (USA)
Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)

60kg
Sadyk LALAEV (AIN)
Emin SEFERSHAEV (AIN)
Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)
Huseyn GARIBOV (AZE)
PRAVESH (IND)
Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI)
Abere FETENE (ISR)
Melkamu FETENE (ISR)
Denis MIHAI (ROU)
Georgij TIBILOV (SRB)
Dalton ROBERTS (USA)
Maxwell BLACK (USA)
Alisher GANIEV (UZB)
Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

63kg
Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN)
Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN)
Ziya BABASHOV (AZE)
Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)
UMESH (IND)
Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI)
Erfan JARKANI (IRI)
Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)
Corneliu RUSU (MDA)
Ellis COLEMAN (USA)
Ildar HAFIZOV (USA)
Otto BLACK (USA)
Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

67kg
Daniial AGAEV (AIN)
Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)
Farid KHALILOV (AZE)
Dominik ETLINGER (CRO)
Erik TORBA (HUN)
Vinayak PATIL (IND)
Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI)
Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI)
Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Morten THORESEN (NOR)
Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Sebastian NAD (SRB)
Noe POC (SRB)
Alejandro SANCHO (USA)
Nozimjon BOYKUZIEV (UZB)

72kg
Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (AIN)
Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE)
Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE)
Luka IVANCIC (CRO)
Denis MERTL (CZE)
Matias LIPASTI (FIN)
Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN)
Krisztian VANCZA (HUN)
Levente LEVAI (HUN)
Ankit GULIA (IND)
Iman KHOON (IRI)
Danial SOHRABI (IRI)
Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI)
Mihai PETIC (MDA)
Benjamin PEAK (USA)
Abdullo ALIEV (UZB)

77kg
Illia VALEUSKI (AIN)
Maksim SHEDZ (AIN)
Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN)
Sergei STEPANOV (AIN)
Khasay HASANLI (AZE)
Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
Davud MAMMADOV (AZE)
Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Michal ZELENKA (CZE)
Oliver KRUEGER (DEN)
Akseli YLI HANNUKSELA (FIN)
Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN)
Robert FRITSCH (HUN)
Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)
KARAN (IND)
Amin KAVIYANI (IRI)
Amir ABDI (IRI)
Ali OSKOU (IRI)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA)
Aryan BIN AZMAN (SGP)
Aleksa ILIC (SRB)
Artur POLITAIEV (UKR)
Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB)
Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

82kg
Ilya BITSEYEU (AIN)
Shuai MAMEDAU (AIN)
Gurban GURBANOV (AZE)
Filip SACIC (CRO)
Karlo KODRIC (CRO)
Marek VRBA (CZE)
Peter DOEMOEK (HUN)
Erik SZILVASSY (HUN)
Dominik BOTOS (HUN)
Aman KUMAR (IND)
Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)
Mihail BRADU (MDA)
Vasile COJOC (ROU)
Uros LECIC (SRB)
Jesse PORTER (USA)
Samandar BOBONAZAROV (UZB)

87kg
Stanislau SHAFARENKA (AIN)
Ihar YARASHEVICH (AIN)
Aues GONIBOV (AIN)
Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN)
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Vjekoslav LUBURIC (CRO)
Matej MANDIC (CRO)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO)
Ondrej HAVELKA (CZE)
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)
Istvan TAKACS (HUN)
David LOSONCZI (HUN)
Tamas LEVAI (HUN)
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Patrik GORDAN (ROU)
Milos PEROVIC (SRB)
Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB)
Spencer WOODS (USA)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)
Rahimjon UZOKOV (UZB)

97kg
Uladzislau PUSTASHYLAU (AIN)
Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)
Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN)
Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN)
Artur SARGSIAN (AIN)
Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE)
Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE)
Filip SMETKO (CRO)
Tomislav BRKAN (CRO)
Kristian LUKAC (CRO)
Ondrej DADAK (CZE)
Mathias BAK (DEN)
Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Alex SZOKE (HUN)
Vendel VITAI (HUN)
SONU (IND)
Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI)
Shayan HABIBZARE (IRI)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Nicu OJOG (ROU)
Uros KRSTIN (SRB)
Luka KATIC (SRB)

130kg
Dzmitry ZARUBSKI (AIN)
Sergei SEMENOV (AIN)
Marat KAMPAROV (AIN)
Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE)
Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
Artur SARKISJAN (CZE)
Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN)
Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Laszlo DARABOS (HUN)
Darius VITEK (HUN)
Koppany LASZLO (HUN)
Uttam RANA (IND)
Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI)
Courtney FREEMAN (USA)
Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB)

Note: The 53kg weight class in Women's Wrestling was removed after only one wrestler was registered for the same.