#UWWAwards

UWW 2023 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year Nominees

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 11) — United World Wrestling has announced the five nominations for the 2023 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year, awarded to the best Greco-Roman wrestler of the year.

The nominations reflect the results from this year’s World Championships, Continental Championships, Continental Games and Ranking Series events.

The five finalists are: 

Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB)
- 67kg world champion
- Pan American Championships gold medalist
- XIX Pan-American Games champion
- Zagreb Open Ranking Series bronze medalist
- Kyrgyzstan Ranking Series bronze medalist
- Ranked No.1 in the world with 86,400 points 

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)
- 130kg world champion
- Asian Championships gold medalist
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Kyrgyzstan Ranking Series champion
- Ranked No.1 in the world with 76,000 points

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
- 77kg world champion
- Asian Championships gold medalist
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Ranked No.1 in the world with 65,000 points  

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
- 60kg world champion
- Asian Championships gold medalist
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Ranked No.1 in the world with 68,000 points

Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
- 63kg world champion
- European champion
- Kyrgyzstan Ranking Series champion
- Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series silver medalist
- Ranked No.1 in the world with 75,000 points

Obituary

Saudi history maker Al-Ghamdi passes away in car accident

By United World Wrestling Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (March 8) --- It is with great sorrow that United World Wrestling has learned of the passing passes of Abdul Aziz Fahd AL-GHAMDI (SKA), a prominent athlete of the Saudi National Wrestling team, who was killed in a tragic traffic accident.

Al-Ghamdi, at 19, showcased his exceptional talent and unwavering determination on the wrestling mat, winning a gold medal at the 2022 U17 Arab Championships. However, his most remarkable career feat came in 2019 when he clinched a bronze medal at the U15 Asian Championship, becoming Saudi Arabia’s first-ever Asian medalist in wrestling.

His absence will leave a void in the wrestling world—especially in the Saudi wrestling community. United World Wrestling offers its condolences to Abdul Aziz Fahd Al-Ghamdi's family, friends, teammates, and all those whose lives he touched.