#ThrowBackThursday

#TBT: Olympic Champion Steveson Wins First World Title

Thursday, January 13, 2022 - 12:58 By United World Wrestling Press

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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.

#ThrowBackThursday

#TBT: Monday Stops Fadzaev From Winning Fifth World Title

Thursday, May 13, 2021 - 14:33 By Eric Olanowski

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In a battle of reigning Olympic champions, Kenny MONDAY ?? defeated Arsen FADZAEV ?? in the 74kg gold-medal match at the ’89 World Championships. At the time of their meeting in Martigny, Switzerland, Fadzaev won world titles in ’83, ’85, ’86, ’87 and a gold medal at the ’88 Seoul Olympic. After the loss to Monday in ’89, he rebounded and went on to win additional world titles in ’90 and ’91 and a second Olympic gold in ’92.