#ThrowBackThursday

#TBT: Olympic Champion Steveson Wins First World Title

By United World Wrestling Press

Gable STEVESON (USA) became an overnight sensation after winning a thrilling final and the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics with wins over former world champions Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Taha AKGUL (TUR). The American was trailing Petriashvili in the 125kg final in Tokyo but scored two takedowns in the final 10 seconds to win the coveted Olympic title at the age of 21.

But a three-time age-group world champion has a habit of punching about his weight. In 2015, a 15-year-old Steveson made a stunning run at the Cadet World Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and won the gold medal with a 9-0 victory over Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB). He outscored his opponents 47-12.

Since then he won the 2016 cadet world title, 2017 junior world title, 2021 senior Pan-Am Championships gold and the Tokyo Olympics gold with just the 2018 Junior World Championships being a lackluster event for him. The defending champion there finished fifth as Rakhimov avenged his loss from 2015 with a pin.

UWW signs MoU with WFISW for Indian Kushti

By United World Wrestling Press

HYDERABAD, India (January 20) -- The United World Wrestling and World Federation of Indian Style Wrestling signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote and grow the traditional Indian style wrestling -- Kushti.

The MoU is part of UWW's continuous effort to support traditional wrestling styles across the world.

UWW Associated Styles President and Bureau Member Rodica YAKSI was present in Hyderabad to sign the MoU on the sidelines of the 51st Hind Kesari tournament, an annual event to crown the champion of the traditional style in India.

The MoU states that UWW Associated Styles will continue to extend its support to WFISW with the objective to develop the sport around the world.

"The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding is to establish a common understanding to facilitate the shared goals and objectives for the protection, development, and promotion of Traditional Indian Wrestling style," the MoU states.

The MoU does not give rise to any legally binding commitment of resources, financial or otherwise, for either organization. The use of materials or intellectual property including name, logo, trademark, symbol, among others things, belonging to United World Wrestling cannot be used by the other Party unless both agree for the same.

The MoU is solely for the purpose of supporting and promoting the Indian style and not to affiliate the world or Indian federation for now.

UWW will keep a close tab on all the traditional styles around the globe, to assess their progress and continue to take necessary steps to promote them.