YoungestToOldest

From Teens to 40-Somethings: The Youngest and Oldest Gold Medalists in Olympic History (Part I: Freestyle)

Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 16:49 By Ikuo Higuchi

Share this article

(This is the first of a three-part series that appeared on the Japan Wrestling Federation website. It was translated for UWW by Ken Marantz.)

With wrestling currently on hold along with the rest of world sports and looking for a distraction, I started to wonder about the Tokyo Olympics, which have been postponed for a year. Would that have any affect on the records for youngest- and oldest-ever Olympic champions in history each of the three styles? 

What put that subject into my head was a story I had read on an American media website. In the report, it speculated that the Tokyo Games might produce the oldest gold medalist in Olympic wrestling history. But what struck me most was that the information cited didn't sound right to me. The ages seemed off. 

So, with perhaps a bit too much time on my hands, I set out to confirm my suspicions and researched the ages of every Olympic wrestling gold medalist in history. The results were quite fascinating, and enabled me to come up with top 15 lists for both ends of the age spectrum in all three styles. Today I will start with freestyle.

First-Ever Teen Grabs a Gold
There have been 198 gold medals awarded in freestyle wrestling in Olympic history since wrestling first appeared at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics. The champions have been mostly in their 20s, with a fair number in their 30s. But there has been the rare teenager, and the even rarer 40-something to make it to the top step of the podium. 

The youngest in history in freestyle has been Saban TRSTENA (YUG), who may have competed for a country that no longer exists but left his name in the record books when he won the 52kg gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics at the tender age of 19 years 7 months 9 days. 

Trstena had gone into the Los Angeles Games riding high from a victory in the final of that year's European Championships over reigning world champion Valentin JORDANOV (BUL), who has his own place in wrestling history (more on that later).  Trstena's triumph in L.A. made him the first teenager in Olympic history in either style to win a gold. 

En route to the gold, Trstena knocked off Yuji TAKADA (JPN), the 1976 gold medalist who was unable to defend his title at the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of the U.S.-led boycott. Takada, a four-time world champion, is now executive director of the Japan Wrestling Federation. Trstena's connection with Japan, however, was not finished--at the Seoul Olympics four years later, he would lose in the final to Mitsuru SATO (JPN). 

One one other teenager has ever won an Olympic crown. Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) was a little more than one month shy of his 20th birthday when he captured the 60kg gold at the 2012 London Olympics. While young, he was not unknown going into London, having won the world junior gold the previous year and the European senior title five months before the Olympics. In the third round in London, he eked out a 2-0 (1-0, 2-2) win over 2008 silver medalist Kenichi YUMOTO (JPN).

Four years later, Asgarov was denied a second straight gold at the 2016 Rio Games when he lost in the 65kg final to Soslan RAMONOV (RUS). After falling out of the spotlight following that defeat, local media has reported he will aim to qualify for Tokyo at 74kg. 

Looking at the other end of the timeline, it had been reported that Jordanov became the oldest freestyle champion in Olympic history when he won the 52kg gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics at a spry 36 years 6 months 7 days. But this was a mistake. On the day Arsen MEKOKISHVILI (URS) won the over-87kg gold at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, the Soviet wrestler was 40 years 3 months 11 days. In fact, Jordanov is third on the all-time list.

It is worth noting that the rules have changed regarding weigh-ins, which could affect the performance of older wrestlers. Having just a single weigh-in, on the first day of competition, might be to a veteran's advantage, as they might have more trouble with weight control. 

At Olympics that had weigh-ins over a span of two or more days, Sergei BELOGLAZOV (URS) takes the honor as oldest-ever champion by winning the 57kg gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics 14 days after his 32nd birthday. Limiting it further to Games which had multiple weigh-ins on the mornings of competition days, Mirian ZALKALAMANIDZE (URS) was the oldest, having been 29 years 7 months 8 days at the time of his victory at 52kg at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

As world wrestling has recently returned to the latter system, it will make a gold-medal performance by a 30-something wrestler even more noteworthy. One candidate might be Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB), who won the 2018 world title in Budapest at 61kg at the age of 34 years 11 months 9 days, although it is not certain he will be on the team to Tokyo.

Looking at the Top 15 lists, one wrestler makes both. Bouvaisa SAITIEV (RUS) occupies the No. 13 spot among youngest-ever with his 1996 Atlanta gold, and ranks 11th among the oldest in history after striking gold again 12 years later in Beijing. 

TOP 15 YOUNGEST OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (FREESTYLE)

    Name                                                        Age                               Olympics               Wt.    Date of birth (Yr/Mo/Day)

1. Saban TRSTENA (YUG)                    19 years 7 months 9 days        1984 Los Angeles       52kg     1965/01/01

2. Togrul ASGAROV (AZE)                    19 years 10 months 25 days    2012 London              60kg    1992/09/17

3. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)         20 years  3 months 11 days     2016 Rio de Janeiro   86kg    1996/05/09

4. Sanasar OGANESYAN (URS)            20 years  5 months 24 days    1980 Moscow             90kg    1960/02/05

5. Mavlet BATIROV (RUS)                     20 years  8 months 16 days     2004 Athens              55kg    1983/12/12

6. Magomedgasan ABUSHEV (URS)     20 years  8 months 19 days    1980 Moscow             62kg    1959/11/10

7. Kyle SNYDER (USA)                          20 years  9 months 1 day        2016 Rio de Janeiro   97kg    1995/11/20

8. Henry CEJUDO (USA)                       20 years  11 months 17 days   2008 Beijing              55kg    1987/09/02

9. Il KIM (PRK)                                       21 years  0 months 11 days     1992 Barcelona          48kg    1971/07/25

10. Bakhtiar AKMEDOV (RUS)              21 years  0 months 16 days     2008 Beijing              120kg   1987/08/05

11. George DE RELWYSKOW (GBR)    21 years  1 month 6 days         1908 London             66.6kg   1887/06/18

12. Mitsuo IKEDA (JPN)                         21 years  1 month 17 days       1956 Melbourne          73kg    1935/10/14

13. Bouvaisa SAITIEV (RUS)                  21 years  0 months 11 days     1996 Atlanta                74kg    1975/03/11

14. Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)                    21 years  7 months 24 days     2016 Rio de Janeiro   74kg    1994/12/26

15. Khadshimourad GATSALOV (RUS)  21 years  7 months 24 days     2004 Athens              96kg     1982/12/11

 

TOP 15 OLDEST OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (FREESTYLE)

    Name                                                        Age                             Olympics                   Wt.  Date of birth  (Yr/Mo/Day)

1. Arsen MEKOKISHVILI (URS)            40 years 3 months 11 days     1952 Helsinki              +87kg    1912/04/12

2. Gyula BOBIS (HUN)                           38 years 9 months 24 days    1948 London               +87kg     1909/10/07

3. Valentin JORDANOV (BUL)              36 years 6 months 7 days        1996 Atlanta                 52kg     1960/01/26

4. Kaarlo MAEKINEN (FIN)                  36 years 2 months 18 days      1928 Amsterdam          56kg     1892/05/14

5. *Yasar DOGU (TUR)                          35 years 6 months 30 days      1948 London                73kg     1913/01/01

6. Hermann GEHRI (SUI)                     34 years 11 months 18 days      1924 Paris                    72kg     1889/07/26

7. Alexander MEDVED (URS)                34 years 11 months 15 days      1972 Munich             +100kg   1937/09/16

8. Mahmut ATALAY (TUR)                   34 years 6 months 20 days       1968 Mexico City         78kg     1934/03/30

9. Kustaa PIHLAJAMAEKI (FIN)         34 years 3 months 28 days       1936 Berlin                    61kg       1902/04/07

10. Johan RICHTHOFF (SWE)               34 years 3 months 3 days         1932 Los Angeles       +87kg    1898/04/30

11. Bouvaisa SAITIEV (RUS)                  33 years 5 months 9 days         2008 Beijing                 74kg     1975/03/11

12. Artur TAIMAZOV (UZB)                   33 years 0 months 22 days       2012  London              120kg    1979/07/20

13. Kaarlo Johan ANTTILA (FIN)          32 years 11 months 28 days      1920 Antwerp             67.5kg    1887/08/30

14. Emile POILVE (FRA)                         32 years 10 months 16 days       1936 Berlin                   79kg    1903/09/19

15. Olle ANDERBERG (SWE)                 32 years 10 months 10 days       1952 Helsinki               67kg    1919/09/13

*--There are discrepancies in the birthdate of Yasar Dogu. The date used here is conjecture from various sources.

2026 Muhamet Malo

Muhamet Malo Day 4 Results: Medet Kyzy Beats Reasco to Win 76kg Gold

Saturday, February 28, 2026 - 09:53 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- The stakes were not the same but Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be very satisfied with her win over world champion Genesis REASCO (ECU).

World champion Reasco and silver medalist Medet Kyzy met in the 76kg final of the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series on Saturday. In the rematch of the World Championships final, Medet Kyzy changed her strategy and kept Reasco tangled in upper body match-up. It worked out well for Medet Kyzy as she defeated Reasco 5-4 to clinch the gold medal.

Five months ago in Zagreb, Reasco led 4-0 with two different takedowns before Medet Kyzy cut it to 4-2 but was unable to score another takedown which would have given her the win.

In Tirana on Saturday, the Kyrgyzstan wrestler did not let Reasco settle down and dictate. She scored the first stepout of the bout to take a 1-0 lead. Reasco and Medet Kyzy then were locked in par terre but the former managed to get her hand out and score a takedown to lead 2-1. Medet Kyzy got a two-on-one and snapped Reasco for  takedown and turned her using a gut-wrench to step ahead 5-2 at the break.

Reasco tried her getting a two-on-one on Medet Kyzy but was blocked as Medet Kyzy kept her left arm on the Ecuadorian's forehead. Reasco then switched plans and went for her favorite double-leg attack to get the takedown and cut the lead to 5-4.

But Medet Kyzy did not panic and locked Reasco in double underhooks and then standing to run out the time and claim the victory.

While there were no celebrations from Medet Kyzy but her win makes her the favorite not just for the April's Asian Championships but also the October's World Championships.

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) finishes her final against Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Bakbergenova Dominates

Three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) was dominant throughout the day and won the gold medal at 72kg.

Coming out of the Nelson bracket as the number one from the group, she won the semifinal, 10-0, against Diksha MALIK (IND). From the other side, world bronze medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) reached the final.

Bakbergenova was put on the activity clock in the first period and Nurtaeva was on the board with a 1-0 lead. But a slide-by from Bakbergenova threw the bout wide open. Bakbergenova elevated Nurtaeva's leg and rolled over for four points but the latter kept her control to get two points.

The Kazakhstan wrestler kept her position and was awarded a point for reversal and then tried to pin Nurtaeva, however, the Kyrgyzstand wrestler flee out of bounds. At the end of the exchange, Bakbergenova led 11-3. Kyrgyzstan challenged the call and lost one more point and Nurtaeva was put in forced par terre.

Bakbergenova sat on Nurtaeva as the latter tried to get out of the hold but going between the former's legs. That was the two points Bakbergenova needed to complete her victory.

Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) turns NEHA (IND) during the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Vynnyk Edges Neha

Albania is turning out to be a happy hunting ground for Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR). After winning her two U23 World Championships gold medals here in 2023 and 2024, Vynnyk won the 57kg gold medal at the Ranking Series on Saturday.

In one of the most exciting finals of the night, Vynnyk defeated NEHA (IND), 8-7, with 13 points coming in the second period. It was the Indian who opened the score with an early takedown to lead 2-0 at the break, before Vynnyk who used a chest wrap to throw her over and led 2-2. She continued the exchange with three turns before a reversal and came out with an 8-3 lead.

Neha, who looked clueless in her defense, used strength to put Vynnyk down for two points to cut the lead to 8-5. With 50 seconds remaining and needing three points to win, Neha elevated Vynnyk's leg, trying to score four points. But Vynnyk defended all attempts to trip her and killed the time as Neha tried to find a way to score.

Eventually, Vynnyk fell on the edge and Neha got only two points, that too after a challenge. Neha was left with only six seconds to win the match and that was always too little against Vynnyk, who improved her bronze from last year.

At 53kg, Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) won all her four bouts in the Nelson bracket to win the gold medal. She outscored her four opponents 36-3 to stamp her authority.

MEENAKSHI (IND) won the silver medal after beating Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 2-1, in the Round 5 bout. Yetgil ended with a bronze medal.

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) won the 67kg gold after a 5-1 win over Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Shermakhanbet Returns With Gold

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), who has been out of action for close to a year, returned to international competition with a gold medal at 67kg. The former Asian champion took out Zagreb Open champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 5-1, in the final. He was the second Georgian who Shermakhanbet defeated as he took out European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) in the semifinals.

In the final, Shermakhanbet scored a turn from par terre in the first period and then defended his par terre in the second period despite desperate efforts from Chkhikvadze.

The Kazakhstan wrestler got the last two points when Chkhikvadze tried to throw him but landed on his back.

At 63kg, Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) defeated compatriot Sakit GULIYEV (AZE), 1-1, thanks to the first par terre call he got and held criteria.

Photo

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW)
SILVER: MEENAKSHI (IND)
BRONZE: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)

57kg
GOLD: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. NEHA (IND), 8-7

BRONZE: Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) df. Kristina MIKHNEVA (UWW), via fall (7-7)
BRONZE: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR), 5-4

72kg
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), 14-3

BRONZE: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Diksha MALIK (IND), via fall

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Genesis REASCO (ECU) 

BRONZE: Dymond GUILFORD (USA) vs. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
BRONZE: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) vs. Elmira YASIN (TUR)

Greco-Roman

63kg
GOLD: Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) df. Sakit GULIYEV (AZE), 1-1

BROBZE: Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) df. Ali HAJIVAND (IRI), 6-3
BRONZE: Morten THORESEN (NOR) df. Bakytzhan KABDYL (KAZ), 2-1

67kg
GOLD: Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) df. Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 5-1

BRONZE: Mahammad SHUKURZADE (AZE) vs. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO)
BRONZE: Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) df. Otto BLACK (USA), 8-0

Morning Session Highlights

15:00: Greco 67kg semifinals - Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) books his spot in the 67kg final after a 4-4 criteria over Otto BLACK (USA). This is the second straight Ranking Series final for Chkhikvadze. Black threatened to upset the Georgian as he scored two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-0. But Chkhikvadze managed to control the second period and scored two takedowns against a tiring Black to win.

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) denied European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO), 3-1, in the other semifinal. A takedown from Shermakhanbet which was challenge by Georgia but lost, giving a 3-0 lead to the Kazakhstan. A stepout is all Khetsuriani could score in the second period.

14:45: Greco 63kg semifinals - Sakit GULIYEV (AZE) goes high gut-wrench from par terre and turn (NOR) Morten THORESEN (NOR) four times to finish the semifinal 9-0. He will face compatriot Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) who rode on a strong first period to beat Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), 7-3. Babashov hit a four-pointer and turn from par terre to score his points.

14:30: 76kg semifinals - World Championships final rematch in Tirana. World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) comes back after being 4-2 down against Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) and scores two take downs in the second period to win 6-4. World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) gets past the young Elmira YASIN (TUR), 9-0, to book her chance to avenge that loss from Zagreb

14:20: 72kg semifinals - Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) was put on the activity clock in the second period but she instantly hits Diksha MALIK (IND) with a double leg and then score six points with a lace to lead 9-1. She scores a stepout to finish the semifinal 10-0. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) will face Bakbergenova in the final after she held off Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) for a 2-1 win

14:10: 57kg semifinals - NEHA (IND), a U20 world bronze medalist, with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) in just one minute and 32 seconds. A stiffer challenge awaits in the final as Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), a U23 world champion, will stand between her and the gold medal. Vynnyk used a strong gut-wrench and then a four-pointer to win her semifinal against Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ), 14-2.

Semifinals will begin at 14:00 hours local time

12:55: Quick finish for Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) as she rolls Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL) after a takedown to win 10-0 at 76kg. She will wrestle in the semifinals.

12:50: World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) is too good for European champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) at 76kg. She opens with a double-leg four-pointer before Alpyeyeva is hit with caution which makes her score 5-0. A scramble is score two points for Reasco and one for Alpyeyeva which Ukraine challenges but loses the challenge, giving extra point to Reasco who wins 8-5

12:45: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) shits gears in the final minute to beat Bose TOSUN (TUR) 6-1 at 72kg. Bakbergenova led 2-1 after two activity clock points and then scored a double-leg takedown and roll to complete the victory

12:40: In a battle of age-group stars, Elmira YASIN (TUR) beats KAJAL (IND), 7-5, at 76kg. Kajal led 3-0 when Yasin hit double-leg for four points which Kajal challenged but lost to give Yasin a 5-3 lead. The first two minutes of the second period were slow before Kajal got a takedown but that only made it 5-5 with Yasin holding criteria. A desperate throw from Kajal at the end resulted in Yasin on top, giving the Turkiye wrestler two more points

12:35: Another excellent win for Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) over Samantha STEWART (CAN) at 57kg. Once again, Domajeva with a comeback from 4-0 down to make it 4-4 in the second period and win on criteria.

12:20: Ali HAJIVAND (IRI) and Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) took a long time to finish their 63kg bout and it is the Iranian who comes out on top 6-3. Mammadov took a 3-0 lead in the first period. But, Hajivand got the par terre in the second and Mammadov committed a defensive foul which gave a 3-3 criteria lead to Hajivand. He then hit a correct throw to make it 5-3. Hajivand then almost got Mammadov in a fall but did not complete it but his lead swelled to 7-3. Mammadov challanged that asking for leg foul but lost it which gave Hajivand the additional one point.

12:00: Zagreb Open champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) with first-period victory over Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) 67kg. Chkhikvadze hits an opening four-pointer and then gets a pushout which was actually a throw but Zakriev did not land in danger. Zakriev challenges for two points for himself but challenge is lost. A two-point takedown and stepout gives Chkhikvadze the 9-1 win

11:50: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) gets a win over Buse TOSUN (TUR), 12-1, in the Nelson bracket bout. Tosun unusually clueless in that bout was even docked a caution point

11:25: World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) recovers from the first takedown that Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) scored on her to complete a 12-2 victory in her opening bout at 76kg in Tirana.

11:15: World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) needed a stepout with 20 seconds left to pull off a victory against Dymond GUILFORD (USA) in the opening round bout at 76kg. The United States challenged the call but Guilford stepped out first, giving Reasco another point as she wins 3-2.

11:05: U20 world silver medalist Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) with a activity clock point and a stepout to complete a 2-2 win over Jenna HEMIAE (FIN) at 57kg. Really clutch from Domajeva

10:55: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), a three-time world silver medalist, with a 4-3 victory over Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) at 72kg

10:45: Starting the day with 53kg as Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) takes out MEENAKSHI (IND), 5-0, and then Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) hangs on for a 3-3 criteria win over Roksana ZASINA (POL), also at 53kg

10:30: A big day in Tirana as a World Championships final rematch on the cards between champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at women's 76kg.