Olympic Champ Kim Remains Lone Non-European No. 1 Ranked Wrestler

Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 17:40 By Eric Olanowski

VEVEY, Switzerland (June 25) – Korea's Olympic champion KIM Hyeonwoo captured a gold medal at the Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial last month on the Italian island of Sardinia and remained the lone non-European to hold a No. 1 ranking heading into the final Greco-Roman Ranking Series event, the Oleg Karavaev (July 26-28).

Of the nine top spots held by European wrestlers, five Russian wrestlers are ranked first in their respective weight class. The Russian-five are Sergey EMELIN (60kg), Stepan MARYANYAN (63kg), Artem SURKOV (67kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg), and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg).

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), Frank STAEBLER (GER), Emrah KUS (TUR), and Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) give Azerbaijan, Germany, Turkey, and Ukraine the remaining four top spots.

Azizli Remains Top-Ranked Wrestler at 55kg
Eldaniz Azizli comes in as the No.1 seed at 55kg. The Azeri has a resounding 30-point lead over second-ranked Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) and has the luxury of sitting out of the Oleg Karavaev and still keeping his top spot.

Bakhromov has the narrow six-point lead over Budapest world runner-up Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), and a nine-point lead over fourth-ranked Ekrem OZTURK (TUR). But this may not matter because there are only two athletes entered into the Oleg Karavaev at 55kg and neither are within striking distance of earning a seed for Nur-Sultan World Championships.

If the entry list stays the same, this weight won't change before September, leaving the potential semifinals matchup between Azizli and Ozturk on the top side, and Bakhromov and Sharshenbekov on the bottom side.

Top 10 at 55kg
76 - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)
46 - Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB)
40 - Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
37 -Ekrem OZTURK (TUR)
35 - Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
27 - Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG)
24 - Reza Kheirollah KHEDRI (IRI)
20 - Liguo CAO (CHN)
20 - Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM)
20 - Vitalii KABALOEV (RUS)

Emelin Holds Criteria over Ciobanu, Will be No. 1 Seed at 60kg
Sergey Emelin and Victor CIOBANU (MDA) traded golds at the World and European Championships and could meet each other in another gold-medal match if the rankings hold through the World Championships.

Emlin, the first ranked wrestler at 60kg, holds an 18-point advantage over the man who upset him in the European finals, Vicotr Ciobanu, but the Russian holds criteria and has locked up the top seed because of it.

KIM Seunghak (KOR) climbed to the third spot in the latest rankings and established himself as a credible threat to win a 60kg medal at the world championships after winning back-to-back Ranking Series titles. Earlier this year, Kim won the Hungarian Grand Prix, then won the Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial last month.

Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO) is ranked fourth in the world at 60kg and only sits four points behind Kim. But Kazakhstan's 11th ranked Aidos SULTANGALI sits 17 points behind Lizatovic and will wrestle at the final Ranking Series event. He'd need a gold medal in a weight class with greater than 20 athletes to earn the 18 points he needs to overthrow Lizatovic for the fourth spot.

Top 10 at 60kg
78 - Sergey EMELIN (RUS)
60 - Victor CIOBANU (MDA)
46 - Seunghak KIM (KOR)
42 - Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO)
39 - Sailike WALIHAN (CHN)
38 - Se Ung RI (PRK)
34 - Kerem KAMAL (TUR)
28 - Firuz TUKHTAEV (UZB)
28 - Gyanender GYANENDER (IND)
26 - Virgil MUNTEANU (ROU)

Top Three at 63kg Locked in For Nur-Sultan
Reigning world champion Stepan Maryanyan's record has remained unblemished since he won the world title in Budapest. He's since won the Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Tournament and the European Championships and has cemented his spot at the top of the 63kg weight class with 80 Ranking Series points.

The two wrestlers right behind him, Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) and TUO Erbatu (CHN), have also locked up their top-four seed, but only six points separate the two. Tasmuradov, who got hurt at the Asian Championships, holds a six-point lead over Tuo.

Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) is ranked fourth in the world at 63kg, 22 points behind Tuo. Galstyan still has some work to do if he hopes to lock up a seed at Worlds. Thirty-three wrestlers can still catch him, and one of the wrestlers looking to steal a spot is 22nd ranked Shinobu OTA (JPN). Ota is entered into the Oleg Kavaraev and needs 15 to take over the fourth spot from the Armenian.

Top 10 at 63kg
80 - Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS)
56 - Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB)
50 - Erbatu TUO (CHN)
28 - Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
28 - Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)
26 - Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR)
26 - Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
25 - Rahman BILICI (TUR)
25 - Lenur TEMIROV (UKR)
20 - Hassan Hassan Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY)

Surkov Stands at No. 1 at 67kg
Defending world champion Artem Surkov has a 30-point advantage over second-ranked RYU Hansu (KOR) and will sit out of the Oleg Kavaraev because he's locked up the No. 1 seed.

But Korea's Ryu only has a three-point cushion over Poland's third-ranked Gevorg SAHAKYAN and Kazahkstan's Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET.

From there, six wrestlers can claim a seed, but only two of them will wrestle at the Oleg Kavaraev, and they both happen to be from Japan. Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA and Shogo TAKAHASHI, who are ranked ninth and tenth respectively, are tied with 28 points.

Since they are the only two top-ten ranked wrestlers entered into the final Ranking Series event, if more than 20 wrestlers show up in their bracket and either win a gold medal, they could jump inside the top-three just before the World Championships.

Top 10 at 67kg
78 - Artem SURKOV (RUS)
48 - Hansu RYU (KOR)
45 - Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL)
43 - Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)
40 - Davor STEFANEK (SRB)
30 - Danijel JANECIC (CRO)
30 - Mate NEMES (SRB)
28 - Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA)
28 - Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN)
28 - Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN)

Mnatsakanian Moves to No. 1 After Staebler Dropping Down to 67kg
Germany's Frank STAEBLER has been making his way down to the Olympic weight of 67kg since winning his third world title in Budapest and will be forfeiting his top-ranked at 72kg. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) will be the beneficiary of the German wrestler's move. After he moves up to No. 1, and with no ranked wrestlers entered into the Oleg Kavaraev, the other top-three seeded wrestlers at the World Championships will be Balint KORPASI (HUN), Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS), and Tarek Aziz BENAISSA (ALG), respectively.

Top 10 at 72kg
60 - Frank STAEBLER (GER)
55 - Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
52 - Balint KORPASI (HUN)
40 - Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS)
38 - Tarek Aziz BENAISSA (ALG)
32 - Hujun ZHANG (CHN)
30 - Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR)
26 - Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN)
26 - Mateusz Lucjan BERNATEK (POL)
25 - Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE)

Kim Remains Lone Non-European No.1-Ranked Wrestler
Korea's London Olympic champion Kim Hyeonwoo is the lone non-European wrestler to hold the world's No. 1 ranking. Kim won the Asian Championships and the Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial, while also finishing with bronze medals at the Zagreb Open and Hungarian Grand Prix. His 87 points are 26 more than second-ranked Viktor NEMES (SRB), which means he'll be the top-seeded wrestler at 77kg when the World Championships roll around.

Nemes has a one-point lead over reigning world champion Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS), though it's not clear if Russia will go with Chekhirkin or two-time Olympic champion Roman VLASOV (RUS), who won the European title at this weight.

Hungary's Tamas LORINCZ is the fourth-ranked wrestler and is only in danger of losing his seed to Kamal BEY (USA), but since the American failed to make the world team, Lorincz should be safe not competing in Belarus.

Top 10 at 77kg
87 - Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR)
61 - Viktor NEMES (SRB)
60 - Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS)
52 - Tamas LORINCZ (HUN)
36 - Kamal Ameer BEY (USA)
32 - Bilan NALGIEV (UZB)
22 - Roman VLASOV (RUS)
20 - Alex Michel BJURBERG KESSIDIS (SWE)
20 - Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)
20 - Roland SCHWARZ (GER)

Kus' European Bronze Pushes Him Past Bacsi Who Recently Retired
Emrah KUS (TUR) and Peter BACSI (HUN) are ranked first and second respectively heading into July, but since Bacsi has announced his retirement, Saeid Morad ABDVALI (IRI) will move into to the second slot come September.

Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) is the fourth-ranked wrestler, but that's likely to change because two top-eight wrestlers who are close enough to steal the fourth seed will wrestle in Belarus.

Reigning European champion Rajbek BISULTANOV (DEN) is three points away from Sasunouski, and Asian bronze medalist Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ), who is seven points from the Belarusian, are both aiming for gold at the Oleg Karavaev.

Top 10 at 82kg
70 - Emrah KUS (TUR)
60 - Peter BACSI (HUN)
38 - Saeid Morad ABDVALI (IRI)
37 - Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR)
36 - Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)
34 - Rajbek Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN)
32 - Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)
30 - Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ)
25 - Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM)
20 - Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ)

87kg Seeds Set Heading into Oleg Karavaev
The seeds at 87kg for the World Championships are set in stone. The reason being, Hungary has two wrestlers in the top-four and can only enter one of them into the World Championships. In addition to that, there's only one unseeded wrestler who can jump into the top four, but he'll receive a bump because of the two seeded Hungarians.

Reigning European champion Zhan Beleniuk will be first. Turkey's two-time world champion Metehan BASAR will follow him in the second spot. Hungary will most likely go with fourth-ranked Viktor LORINCZ, who has defeated third-ranked Erik SZILVASSY three times this year. This means Lorincz will be the third-seeded wrestler, with Islam ABBASOV (AZE) moving into the fourth slot.

Top 10 at 87kg
62 - Zhan BELENIUK (UKR)
60 - Metehan BASAR (TUR)
56 - Erik SZILVASSY (HUN)
52 - Viktor LORINCZ (HUN)
40 - Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
32 - Radzik KULIYEU (BLR)
32 - Hossein Ahmad NOURI (IRI)
32 - Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
28 - Mikalai STADUB (BLR)
26 - Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

Evloev Enters Nur-Sultan No. 1 at 97kg
You can lock in Musa Evloev, Kiril MILOV (BUL), and Tracy HANCOCK (USA) to the top three seeds at 97kg for the World Championships. They've built enough points to sit out of the final Ranking Series event and still sit in the top three.

The remaining top-four ranked wrestler who hasn't locked up his spot is Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI (IRI). Aliyarifeizabadi sits in fourth with 39 points. There are still seven wrestlers, none of which are entered into the Oleg Karavaev, that could pass him if they were to show up. Of those seven wrestlers that can catch Aliyarifeizabadi, four of them sit within nine points. That means, a medal at the Oleg Kavaraev would steal the spot from the Iranian.

Top 10 at 97kg
82 - Musa EVLOEV (RUS)
74 - Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL)
60 - Tracy Gangelo HANCOCK (USA)
39 - Mahdi Abbas ALIYARIFEIZABADI (IRI)
35 - Mihail KAJALA (SRB)
32 - Luillys Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN)
32 - Fatih BASKOY (TUR)
30 - Balazs KISS (HUN)
28 - Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
28 - Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB)

Semenov Seals No. 1 Spot at 130kg
Similar to 97kg, the top-three wrestlers at 130kg have locked up their spot for at least a top-four seed for the World Championships. Sergey Semenov, Adam Jacob COON (USA), and Heiki NABI (EST) will be the top-three seeds respectively come September's World Championships.

When it comes to the fourth-ranking, KIM Minseok (KOR) holds the spot as of now. Though it's unlikely to happen because there are only eight wrestlers entered into the Oleg Kavaraev, Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) can still overtake the Korean with a gold-medal performance in a bracket with 20+ wrestlers.

Top 10 at 130kg
76 - Sergey SEMENOV (RUS)
60 - Adam Jacob COON (USA)
52 - Heiki NABI (EST)
47 - Minseok KIM (KOR)
30 - Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
28 - Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
28 - Oskar MARVIK (NOR)
28 - Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
26 - Lingzhe MENG (CHN)
26 - Balint LAM (HUN)

#WrestleCoralville

2026 Pan-American Championships Preview: Freestyle, Greco-Roman, Women's Wrestling

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - 08:30 By Vinay Siwach

CORALVILLE, IOWA, United States (May 5) -- Eight years of dominance at the Pan-American Championships.

That is the standard the United States has set on the continental stage, winning team titles in freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s wrestling at every edition of the tournament since 2018.

There is little reason to expect 2026 to be any different.

A powerful U.S. squad will headline the home edition of the 2026 Pan-American Championships, which runs May 7-10 in Coralville, Iowa, United States.

DOWNLOAD FULL PREVIEW HERE | HOW TO WATCH | PAN-AM ENTRIES

World and defending champions Zahid VALENCIA (USA) at 86kg and Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg will lead the 30-member squad that also features world silver medalist Levi HAINES (USA) at 79kg, Real WOODS (USA) at 65kg, and local star Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) at 97kg.

Valencia, who won the world gold in 2025, opened his season this year at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series, winning a bronze medal. He looks to return to the top of the podium in Coralville like did at his previous two Pan-Am Championships. Valencia has won six bouts overall without much trouble and outscored his opponents 32-0 last year.

He is likely to win the gold medal this year as well and extend his unbeaten run in the continent unless returning silver medalist Jorge LLANO (ARG) can avenge his loss from last year.

Past medalist Ethan RAMOS (PUR) will be returning to Pan-Ams after four years and has a good chance to finish on the podium. Kevin DE LEON TREVINO (MEX), bronze medalist last year, is also returning with an aim to change the color of his medal.

The 92kg bracket has only four wrestlers so Hidlay will have to win three bouts to retain his gold medal. Joining him are returning silver medalist Andrew JOHNSON (CAN), Brazil's rising star Lucas ALVAN (BRA) and last year's silver medalist at 79kg Shane JONES (PUR) who is not at 92kg.

Similarly at 79kg, it will be a round-robin bracket with Haines as the favorite. Haines, who won the world silver in Zagreb with some incredibly high-paced wrestling, can face some resistance from Patrik LEDER (CAN) in an otherwise smooth sail.

A rematch of the World Championships bronze-medal bout is on the cards at 65kg as world bronze medalist Woods and fifth-placer Peiman BIABANI (CAN) are entered. Woods defeated Biabani in Zagreb but the Canadian has the arsenal to counter Woods especially in a rematch.

At 125kg, Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) will be returning to defend his gold medal which he won in spectacular manner, using a five-point throw and a fall.

Paris Olympian Jonovan SMITH (PUR), youngster Jorawar DHINSA (CAN) and 37-year-old returning bronze medalist Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) will be among the challengers for Hendrickson.

Buchanan, who grabbed wrestling headlines after beating Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) at the Zagreb Open, will start at 97kg. It will be only his second international competition. Returning silver medalist Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB) will hope to win the gold medal over Buchanan in front of the American's home crowd.

Among other competitors are Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN), Edwin MORALES (PUR) and Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN).

At 74kg, Geannis GARZON TAMAYO (CUB) will look to make amends after being disqualified last year for brutality. However, U20 Pan-Am champion Phillip WEBSTER (USA) stands in his way.

Adam THOMSON (CAN) has made steady improvements in his career and won bronze last year. The Canadian and former medalist Jonathan PARRILLA RAMOS (PUR) have a good chance of finishing on the podium.

Two of the three weight classes in which the U.S. did not win the gold medal last year were 57kg, and 70kg. (The third was 65kg).

But this year, 57kg is missing defending champ Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX), leaving the category wide open. The entries this year include returning bronze medalists Liam CRONIN (USA) and Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA) and former silver medalists Darian CRUZ (PUR) and Pedro MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN).

At 70kg, with 2025 gold medalist Austin GOMEZ (MEX) retiring, a new champion will be crowned. The U.S. is sending Ridge LOVETT (USA) who finished eighth at the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Other entries include former medalist Mauricio LOVERA (ARG), Michael ZALE (CAN), Francisco GONZALEZ TORRES (MEX) and youngster Victor SOTO RIVERA (PUR).

At 61kg, Austin DESANTO (USA) will fancy his chances of winning gold in a round-robin bracket. Desanto began his year with a gold medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series after winning the round-robin bracket in which he also pinned AMAN (IND).

He will be joined by Garette SAUNDERS (CAN), Peter HAMMER CUDE (CRC) and Caleb SMITH (PUR) in the bracket.

Defending champion Kylie WELKER (USA) and world champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) are expected to meet in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Women's Wrestling (DOWNLOAD FULL PREVIEW HERE)

The 76kg division has produced a different champion at each of the last six Pan-American Championships. Three of those title winners will compete again in Iowa. While several weight classes at the Pan-Ams appear predictable on paper, 76kg stands out as the division to watch.

Defending champion Kylie WELKER (USA) will likely have a face-off against world champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) who she defeated in the semifinals last year. The two can only meet in the final as both are seeded on opposite sides.

The Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalists Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) and Milaimy MARIN (CUB) are also entered for the competition. Renteria has lost two Pan-Am finals and is returning to the tournament after two years. Marin, who won the 2023 title by beating Renteria in the final, will also be eyeing her second title.

Another Olympic medalist in action is Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) who has been a force at 53kg for some years, and she recently won silver at the World Championships.

The U.S. is sending former U20 world champion Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) who has not had similar success at the senior level but is still a tough competitor. Former U23 world silver medalist Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN) will also look to reach the podium and challenge Guzman and her bid for a fourth Pan-Am title.

At 57kg, defending champion Yaynelis SANZ (CUB) will return in a packed bracket featuring former champion Giullia PENALBER (BRA), veteran Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), Amanda MARTINEZ (USA), Bertha ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX) and 55kg champion Karla GODINEZ (CAN) who is now at 57kg.

At 62kg, there will be a new champion as the 2025 gold medalist Ana GODINEZ (CAN) has decided to skip the tournament. Returning silver medalist Astrid MONTERO (VEN) will fancy her chances but the bracket has former champion Lais NUNES (BRA) and returning bronze medalist Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX) as well.

Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) will lead the U.S. challenge while Canada is sending Annika FINES (CAN).

The U.S. will hope that the 68kg gold stays with it despite last year's gold medalist Kennedy BLADES (USA) not part of the team. Former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) will lead the charge in this weight class. Among the contenders are returning silver medalist Nathaly GRIMAN (VEN), returning bronze medalist Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI) along with Eduarda RODRIGUES (BRA) and Aleah NICKEL (CAN).

Former U17 world champion Katie GOMEZ (USA) has made a drastic but successful drop to 50kg as she earned a spot on the U.S. team last week. She will be looking for her first Pan-Am title in Coralville but adjusting to the weight will be a bigger challenge.

Returning silver medalist Madison PARKS (CAN) will definitely fancy her chances against Gomez and bronze medalist Nohalis LOYO (VEN) would like to change the color of her medal. Cuba is sending U23 Pan-Am champ Greili BENCOSME (CUB) who will hope for a podium finish.

In the non-Olympic weight classes, the U.S. has strong representation. U20 world champion and prodigious talent Everest LEYDECKER (USA) is the favorite at 55kg. She began the season with a gold medal at the Zagreb Open. She will be joined by Amber WIEBE (CAN) and Josefina RAMIREZ (MEX) in the bracket.

At 59kg, defending champion and world bronze medalist Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) will once again start as the favorite despite the presence of Daniela MARTINEZ (MEX), Abigail NETTE (USA) and Mayara RAMOS (BRA).

Former world silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) is back on the mat after a brief period in which she was out of action. She will have to win two bouts to confirm the gold medal at 65kg. Returning silver medalist Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) will try to find a way past Miracle and clinch the gold medal this year. They are joined by Alexis GOMEZ (MEX) in the bracket.

Ellise DAYNES (CAN), Michelle OLEA RUIZ (MEX) and Precious BELL (USA) complete the 72kg bracket for the Pan-Am Championships.

Luis ORTA (CUB) is a three-time Pan-American champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Greco-Roman (DOWNLOAD FULL PREVIEW HERE)

Cuba has historically dominated Greco-Roman wrestling at the Pan-American Championships. Up until 2021, it routinely collected multiple gold medals, including clean sweeps of all weight categories in 1988, 1997 and 2005. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the country struggled to maintain that level of dominance.

The dip was evident in 2020, when Cuba managed three golds. For any other country, that would be a successful campaign. However, for Cuba it was their worst performance since 2003. Since then, Cuba has not won more than three golds, hitting rock bottom in 2024 with just one gold.

Cuba is now hoping to reverse that trend. Led by Olympic and world champion Luis ORTA (CUB), Cuba will eye at least four golds in Coralville. Orta is among the three defending champs from Cuba returning along with Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) and Oscar PINO (CUB).

Orta, a bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is a four-time Pan-American champion and remains unbeaten in the tournament. He will compete at 67kg in Coralville, where he is expected to extend that streak.

The weight also features returning silver medalist Nestor ALMAZA (CHI) and U23 world bronze medalist Otto BLACK (USA) making his Pan-Am debut. Other contenders include returning 72kg silver medalist Nilton SOTO (PER), 2023 bronze medalist Andres MONTANO (ECU) and Mauricio LOVERA (ARG), a former bronze medalist trying to do the Greco and Freestyle double again.

At 97kg, Rosillo enters as the defending champion and favorite. The 2023 world champion, who also won bronze in Paris, will look to add another continental title. His main rival remains Kevin MEJIA (HON), a three-time champion who defeated Rosillo in the 2024 final before finishing runner-up in 2025.

Returning bronze medalist Carlos ADAMES (DOM) and U23 Pan-Am champion Juan DIAZ (VEN), who is making his senior debut, add further depth to the field.

Pino is placed in a highly competitive 130kg category as he faces a tough challenge from Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA), last year’s silver medalist, and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI), who returns after a two-year break.

Acosta defeated Pino in the 2024 final while Zagreb Open champion Schultz pushed him close in 2025. Gino AVILA (HON), who won bronze medals last year in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman, will be wrestling only Greco this year.

Cuba will hope for golds in other weight classes as well and the biggest hope will be four-time 87kg champion Daniel GREGORICH (CUB), who turns 30 on the first day of the competition.

However, 2025 82kg champion Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) will be the biggest hurdle as he brings the European style to the mat and Gregorich, away from international wrestling for two years, will have to adjust quickly.

Others in the bracket include returning silver medalist Luis AVENDANO (VEN) who also lost to Gregorich in the 2023 final, returning bronze medalist Jose VARGAS (MEX) and Johan BATISTA (DOM), a silver medalist from 2022 after losing to Gregorich in the final.

At 60kg, Paris Olympian Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) makes his Pan-Ams debut and faces returning silver medalist Alexis RODRIGUEZ (MEX), 2023 champion Dalton ROBERTS (USA) and age-group Pan-Am champion Abel SANCHEZ (PER).

With no Cuban entry, the 77kg category is wide open. Former U17 world champion Joel ADAMS (USA) leads the U.S. challenge but will have experienced wrestlers like Joilson DE BRITO (BRA), a former silver medalist and returning to competition after two years, in the bracket.

Two age-group stars Dario CUBAS (PER) and Darfel PARADA (VEN) will make their senior debuts in Coralville and are medal threats.

Big-throwing Kamal BEY (USA) will be at 82kg and with Diego MACIAS (MEX) as the only other wrestler in the category, the two will face directly for gold.

Returning to international wrestling after four years, 36-year-old Max NOWRY (USA) will look to win his fourth Pan-Am title to go along with his golds in 2013, 2019 and 2020.

The other three in his 55kg bracket are at least 14 years younger to Nowry. Yan LANDIM (BRA), Moises PERALTA (ECU) and returning silver medalist Isaac MARIN (MEX) will be the ones challenging the veteran Nowry.

Returning 63kg champion Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) has 41-year-old Marat GARIPOV (BRA) in the same bracket along with U23 Pan-Am champion Angel SEGURA (MEX) and two senior debutants Derick MARTINEZ (PUR) and Landon DRURY (USA).

A round-robin will decide the champion at 72kg as Mauri VICENTE (BRA), Emerson FELIPE (GUA) and Benjamin PEAK (USA) complete the bracket.

Olympic Champ Kim Remains Lone Non-European No. 1 Ranked Wrestler

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2026 Pan-American Championships Preview: Freestyle, Greco-Roman, Women's Wrestling