Youth Olympic Games

Russia, Iran Place Two into Freestyle Finals at YOG

Sunday, October 14, 2018 - 14:34 By Tim Foley

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BUENOS AIRES (October 14) – Russia and Iran each placed two wrestlers in the men’s freestyle finals Sunday night at the Youth Olympic Park’s Asian Pavilion.

For Iran Mohammad KARIMISEIFABAD (65kg) and Amir Abbas ZARE (110kg) will head into the nights finals, while the Russians send Sergei KOZYREV (110kg) and Akhmedkhan TEMBOTOV (80kg).

Argentina found their second finalist in as many days, with Hernan ALMENDRA (55kg) finding a last minute pancake in his final group stage match, to earn the stunning decision against Oussama LARIBI (ALG).

Georgia, Algeria, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and the United States will also be represented in the evening’s final.

Action starts at 5pm local/4pm ET.
 

Men’s Freestyle, 48kg

GOLD: Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO) v. Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)
BRONZE: Diego Armando ZULUAGA CUEVAS (COL) v. Halil GOKDENIZ (TUR)
FIFTH: Daiziel DETUDAMO (NRU) v. Fernando BOOYSEN (RSA)

Men’s Freestyle, 55kg

GOLD: Robert Kelly HOWARD (USA) v. Hernan David ALMENDRA (ARG)
BRONZE: Oussama LARIBI (ALG) v. Vladyslav OSTAPENKO (UKR)
FIFTH: Gavin Stefan Sablan WHITT (GUM) v. Hayato FUJITA (JPN)

Men’s Freestyle, 65kg

GOLD: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) v. Mohammad Baghi KARIMISEIFABAD (IRI)
BRONZE: Inayat ULLAH (PAK) v. Carson Taylor MANVILLE (USA)       
FIFTH: Fathi Tarek A. ISMAIL (EGY) v. Westerly Pehi Tahi AINSLEY (NZL)

Men’s Freestyle, 80kg

GOLD: Akhmedkhan TEMBOTOV (RUS) v. Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG)
BRONZE: Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB) v. Carson Barry LEE (CAN)
FIFTH: Ryan Devon MARSHALL (NZL) v. Valentine YAIREGPIE (FSM)

Men’s Freestyle, 110kg

GOLD: Sergei KOZYREV (RUS) v. Amir Hossein Abbas ZARE (IRI)
BRONZE: Ahmed Mahmoud Elsayed M. KHALIL (EGY) v. Dragan VELINOV (MKD)
FIFTH: Thomas John Mcglinchey BARNS (AUS) v. Luis Rodrigo OROZCO CORTEZ (MEX)

UWW updates competition guidelines for Russia, Belarus wrestlers

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 09:06 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (January 27) -- United World Wrestling will allow wrestlers from Russia and Belarus to compete under their respective national flags up to the U23 age level.

The decision follows a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee that youth athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports should no longer face restrictions on participation in sports events, both individual and team.

The UWW Bureau met last week to discuss the same and decided to implement the IOC recommendation at the U15, U17, U20 and U23 levels.

Russian and Belarusian wrestlers will now compete under their national flags and country initials, “RUS” and “BLR,” respectively. National anthems of both countries will be played at medal ceremonies at UWW events if their wrestlers win gold medals or if a team wins the team championship.

All other standard UWW protocols will be followed at competitions in accordance with international wrestling rules.

Russia

Last year, UWW had updated its criteria for eligible wrestlers and staff from the two countries, allowing them to participate under UWW flag at all competitions.

Despite the updated recommendations, both the IOC and UWW stress that all athletes and their support staff must continue to uphold the Olympic Movement’s mission of promoting unity and peace.

The latest IOC guidance means the March 2023 recommendations regarding Russia and Belarus are no longer mandatory for youth events.

However, the IOC maintains that no government officials from Russia or Belarus should be accredited or invited to international sports events or meetings for either senior or youth competitions.

It also said that International Federations should refrain from organizing or supporting international sports events in Russia, while this recommendation no longer applies to Belarus.