#ThrowBackThursday

#TBT: Snyder Upsets Defending World Champ Gadisov to win ’15 World Gold

By United World Wrestling Press

Kyle SNYDER (USA) entered the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas as a prodigy. Though inexperienced at the international level, he had made a name for himself on the American wrestling scene. He had a junior world title in 2013 and a bronze medal at the same event in 2014.

Abdulsalam GADISOV (RUS) was the defending world champion at 97kg and was looking to become a two-time world champ.

But Snyder had different ideas.

In a battle that will long be remembered by wrestling fans, Snyder, backed by the home crowd in Las Vegas, stunned the Russian great Gadisov 5-5 to claim the gold medal in his senior world debut.

Gadisov was leading 4-3 when Snyder scored a takedown for two points, 22 seconds before the clock expired. The American gave up a point for stepout but managed to hang on for a 5-5 win.

With Snyder's win in Vegas at the ripe age of 19, became USA's youngest-ever world champ. He won the gold at Rio Olympics in 2016 to etch his name in the record books before his world-renowned rivalry with Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) began in 2017.

#ThrowBackThursday

#TBT: Monday Stops Fadzaev From Winning Fifth World Title

By Eric Olanowski

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.