#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 Playlists: Best of Olympic champ Esmaeili

By United World Wrestling Press

Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) was the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics at 67kg in Greco-Roman. A year later in 2025, he added the world title to his name, his first at the senior level, to be among one of the best Greco wrestler currently.

The 22-year-old is also a U17 and U20 world champion and has wins over all top wrestlers of his weight class including Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) and two-time world silver medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE).

Watch all matches of Esmaeili from early days to him becoming a world champion in Zagreb in 2025.

Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI): All Bouts of Olympic champion