#development

Pan-Am training camp wrestlers win 24 medals in Acapulco

By United World Wrestling Press

MEXICO CITY (May 21) -- Before the Senior Pan-American Championships in Acapulco, United World Wrestling and Mexico Wrestling Federation held a training camp from April 1 to May 2 in Mexico City.

A total of 74 wrestlers from eight different Pam-Am countries participated in the month-long camp. Wrestlers from Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, and Puerto Rico were at the camp and supported by UWW's Development Department Technical Assistance program.

Out of the 74 wrestlers who participated in the training camp, 24 stepped up on the podium at the 2022 Pan-Am Championships in Acapulco, and 14 won a quota for their countries for the 2023 Pan-American Games to be held in Santiago, Chile.

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The wrestlers were housed at the Mexican Olympic Sports Center (CDOM) for 23 days of the camp and were provided with all the necessary facilities for optimal performance. They had three meals, planned according to the nutritional needs of high-performance athletes, per day in the CDOM dining room.

All participants had access to the different facilities of the CDOM including the mat sessions which were held in the recently inaugurated Olympic Wrestling Gymnasium, a facility that has three official mats, a sauna, showers, physical conditioning equipment, ice machine, among other amenities for the athletes. They also had training sessions in the physical conditioning gymnasium and the athletics track of the CDOM.

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For recreation, the wrestlers had access to different amenities, such as television, board games, foosball, and movie projection, among others.

All the coaches for the different countries had an active role in the development of the training sessions, making this training camp enjoyable for all the participants and creating partnerships between countries.

Medical, psychological, and physiotherapeutic care to all participants who required it was also provided by Dr. Jacques Rogge of the Center of Medicine and Applied Sports Sciences. 
Medical specialists were available 24-hours a day and an ambulance was available in case of an emergency.

#development

Women in Sport: Coaches begin the WISH Programme

By United World Wrestling Press

London, England (August 22) – Women in Sport High-Performance Pathway (WISH) kicked off the first edition of the programme on 23 May.  WISH was designed to equip women coaches with the potential and ambition to gain roles at elite coaching levels within their sports. The programme is specifically designed to help coaches develop their sport-specific skills, leadership skills and behaviors and build confidence. United World Wrestling is participating along with seven other IF’s and is being supported by Olympic Solidarity, the University of Hertfordshire, and Females Achieving Brilliance (FAB).

United World Wrestling selected three coaches to participate in the first edition. Those coaches include Martine DUGRENIER (CAN), Aline DA SILVA (BRA) and Carissa HOLLAND (AUS). They recently had the opportunity to attend the Residential Session at the University of Hertfordshire (August 14-20).  “The WISH Programme was really well conducted," said Carissa Holland. "We not only learn about leadership qualities and skillsets, but I learned a lot about myself (especially coming out of the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham).”  

The residential session was a weeklong event where the coaches attended working sessions and participated in learning activities with the 24 other coaches in attendance.  Some of the key learning points included leadership skills, creative problem-solving, creating connections, mindset, having uncomfortable conversations and visualizing the future, among many other topics.

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Participants of the WISH programme gather for a photo. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

“The residential week was great. We had the opportunity to meet great people all around the world and learned from experienced well accomplished people," said Aline da Silva. "It was very inspiring. I have learned to embrace a leadership role, to empower others and enjoy the journey! I’m excited to see where the program will lead me over the next 20 months,” said Martine Dugrenier. “The week was more than I expected; I shared a lot with the coaches and improved my knowledge about my leadership. I came back home excited to improve all I learned there and keep the connections.”

The WISH Programme is a 21-month programme.  These coaches will continue meeting with the WISH Leadership Team and work with their leadership mentors and sport-specific mentors.  WISH was originally piloted as the WSLA High-Performance Coach Programme.

UWW participated in the original pilot program with four coaches. After a successful experience, the WISH Programme was developed and expanded to include participation by more International Federations.  UWW has renewed its participation in the outstanding programme.