#UWWAwards

UWW 2023 Wrestler of the Year Freestyle Nominees

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 6) — United World Wrestling has released the five nominations for the 2023 Freestyle Wrestler of the Year, which is awarded to the best senior-level freestyle wrestler.

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

 

The five finalist are:

David TAYLOR (USA)
- 2023 86kg world champion 
- Ranked No. 6 in the world with 45000 points

Ismail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
- 2023 65kg world champion 
- Ranked No. 3 in the world with 62520 points

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) 
- 2023 125kg world champion 
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Zagreb Open Ranking Series champion
- Ranked No. 1 in the world with 69000 points

Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN)
- Ranked No. 2 in the world with 45000 points
- 2023 74kg world champion

Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)
- 2023 97kg world champion 
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Kyrgyz Ranking Series champion
- Asian Championships champion
- Ranked No. 1 in the world with 87520 points

The voting for the UWW Wrestler of the Year in Freestyle is open till December 17 and winners will be announced on December 18.

#development

Learn, Wrestle, Use youth camp organized in Croatia

By United World Wrestling Press

POREC, Croatia (May 6) -- The Croatian Wrestling Federation, in cooperation with United World Wrestling and the Croatian School Sports Federation, successfully organized an international youth wrestling camp titled “Learn, Wrestle, Use”, held from April 14 to 19, 2025, in the renowned wrestling hub of sunny Porec.

The camp brought together 300 young athletes from four European countries -- Croatia, Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany -- in the U13, U15 and U17 age groups. In addition to intensive wrestling training, the camp included targeted educational sessions of learning English, proper nutrition, and digital safety, particularly regarding responsible behavior on social media.

This innovative project stands out for its integrated approach, combining athletic preparation with personal development. Through a balance of physical training and structured education, “Learn, Wrestle, Use” supports the holistic — both physical and psychological — development of young athletes. It encourages not only sporting excellence, but also intercultural exchange, communication skills, and lifelong healthy habits.

The camp was led by a team of distinguished Croatian coaches: Hrvoje SAVUK (U13 Boys Group), Eugen JAKOVLJEVIC, head coach of the Croatian U15 boys national team (U15 & U17 Boys Groups), and Women’s Wrestling national team coaches Dinko KREMIC and Nenad GREZINA (Girls Group). A total of 30 experienced coaches participated in the delivery of the training and educational components.

This international initiative is a strong example of how youth sport can go beyond competition — creating space for learning, connection, and empowerment across borders.