Beach wrestling

Rudulov Wins Gold at Odessa Beach Wrestling World Series, Earns 'Best Throw' Award

Monday, August 12, 2019 - 15:34 By United World Wrestling Press

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ODESSA, Ukraine (August 12) - Competing in his home country, 2017 beach wrestling world champion Semen RADULOV (UKR) turned in a strong performance at the Odessa Beach Wrestling World Series, winning gold and picking up the award for "Best Throw" of the competition.

Radulov, a 2016 European bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling, claimed the gold medal at 70kg with a with a 3-1 victory in the finals over Timothy BOX (USA). He was a silver medalist at last year's Beach World Championships, as well as a silver medalist at the Rio Beach Wrestling World Series in May.


Semen RADULOV (UKR) executing another flying fireman's carry in the event quarterfinal. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

The 29-year-old Ukrainian won the award for "Best Throw" in his semifinal match with a high amplitude, flying fireman’s carry.  By winning the award, Rudulov earned 1000 CHF. It marks the second straight time he has won the award. In Rio, Rudulov won the award after scoring with a blast double leg on the opening day of the competition.

Ukraine ran away with the team title in the men's competition on the strength of two champions and seven medalists. Joining Rudulov as a champion for Ukraine was Serghii PONOMARENKO at 80kg.

Moldova crowned a champion as Piotr IANULOV shut out Viktor SOLOVIOV (UKR) at 90kg.


Moldova's Piotr IANULOV (r) shut out Viktor SOLOVIOV (UKR) at 90kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Oyan NAZARIANI (AZE) edged Roman DOVHALIUK (UKR) to earn the title in the +90kg weight category.

In the women's competition, Ukraine won three of the four gold medals and captured the team title by 68 points.

Ukraine's gold medalists in the women's competition were Kateryna MASHKEVYCH (50kg), Valeriia SEMONKINA ZLATOVA (60kg) and Anna MAZURKEVYCH (70kg).

Champion aleriia SEMONKINA ZLATOVA (60kg) of Ukraine. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Aikaterini PITSIAVA (GRE) won the gold medal at +70kg.

The fourth and final Beach Wrestling World Series event will take place September 7-8 in Zagreb, Croatia.

RESULTS

Men's Beach Wrestling

70kg

GOLD: Semen RADULOV (UKR)
SILVER: Timothy BOX (USA)
BRONZE: Yehor MURADYAN (UKR)

80kg

GOLD: Serghii PONOMARENKO (UKR)
SILVER: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
BRONZE: Georgios KOULOUCHIDIS (GRE)

90kg

GOLD: Piotr IANULOV (MDA)
SILVER: Viktor SOLOVIOV (UKR)

+90kg

GOLD: Oyan NAZARIANI (AZE)
SILVER: Roman DOVHALIUK (UKR)
BRONZE: Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)

Team Standings

1. Ukraine 90
2. Greece 27
3. Azerbaijan 25
4. Moldova 25
5. United States 20

Women's Beach Wrestling

50kg

GOLD: Kateryna MASHKEVYCH (UKR)
SILVER: Mariia HEORHIIEVA (UKR)
BRONZE: Kristina BERMAN SHNYPKO (UKR)

60kg

GOLD: Valeriia SEMONKINA ZLATOVA (UKR)
SILVER: Yana KUZMINA POLTAVSKA (UKR)
BRONZE: Valeriia ODINTSOVA (UKR)

70kg

GOLD: Anna MAZURKEVYCH (UKR)
SILVER: Olha CHALIUK (UKR)
BRONZE: Yevheniia FOKINA (UKR)

+70kg

GOLD: Aikaterini PITSIAVA (GRE)
SILVER: Halyna KOVALSKA (UKR)
BRONZE: Cathrine FRILSETH (NOR)

Team Standings

1. Ukraine 95
2. Norway 27
3. Greece 25
4. United States 10

#WrestleBudapest

Grace Bullen Move: Outside Trip That Defines European Champ

Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 10:31 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 9) -- Grace BULLEN (NOR) lost the most important match of her career while attempting her trademark outside trip, trying to finish the bout with a fall. It came in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games semifinal against Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), who countered with a neck bridge, tossing Bullen over for the fall.

UWW+

Despite the mixed results the move has produced over the years, Bullen did not hesitate to use it in the 2026 European Championships final against Amina TANDELOVA (RUS). Trailing 9-0, Bullen hooked her left foot behind Tandelova's heel and brought her down for the fall.

Three months after their epic European 62kg final, Bullen and Tandelova will be at the Budapest Ranking Series from July 15 to 19, the last stop to gain ranking points before the World Championships.

They will be joined by a strong field that includes former world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN), world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), and European medalists Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) and Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR).

The field also includes Ana GODINEZ (CAN) and former U20 world champion Eniko ELEKES (HUN), who will have the backing of the home crowd. Two Indians, MANSI (IND) and SAVITA (IND), are also entered among others.

Grace BULLEN (NOR)Grace BULLEN (NOR) performs the outside trip against Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) during the 62kg final at the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The same move also rescued Bullen at the Tirana Ranking Series, where she trailed Mansi before winning 6-5.

Speaking after winning European gold, Bullen acknowledged both the risk and the reward of the move.

"I know it's my go-to when I'm down, but I also lost in that situation, the same place," Bullen said. "I know how it is being on the receiving end, also being an attacker in that situation. But glad it worked out for me.

"It's more risky that way and just locking the leg and going forward it's much less risky, especially for me."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Grace Bullen (@gracebullen7)

 

A pivotal career decision saw Bullen relocate her training base to Georgia under coach Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI. Since moving to 62kg, she has won world and Olympic medals and established herself as one of the division's most dangerous wrestlers. The demanding training in Georgia and the move up in weight have transformed her wrestling and her mindset, even if the results have occasionally fluctuated.

"I'm also getting older," she said. "I have to be wise with how I train and so I keep my shape."

That experience has also made Bullen more patient than she was five years ago.

"I've years of experience in wrestling," she said. "I take losses with a greater smile than I ever did before. Just knowing that this year I was in two ranking series competitions and only won one match, I am more patient with everything. I know that even though I lose, I can win in the future."