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UWW 2023 Wrestler of the Year Freestyle Nominees

Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - 14:46 By United World Wrestling Press

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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.

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Paris Olympic champ Hildebrandt announces retirement

Monday, February 17, 2025 - 06:26 By Vinay Siwach

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COLRADO, United States (February 17) -- Olympic champion Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) has announced her retirement from wrestling.

The 31-year-old won gold in Women's Wrestling 50kg at the 2024 Paris Olympics and is also a bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics. At the World Championships, Hildebrandt won two silver (2018, 2021) and two bronze medals (2022, 2023).

Her decision was accompanied with an announcement from USA Wrestling that Hildebrandt will be joining as the assistant coach for Women's Wrestling with senior women's team.

“I have had a really long career and I’ve gotten the experience of what wrestling has taught me," Hildebrandt said. "It has made me so passionate about what this sport can do for people. If I can bring a passion and energy in support of their journey, kind of a door handle to open up their own adventure, that is exciting to me. Wrestling has given me so much. The sport has taught me everything about myself and helped me grow as a woman."

Hildebrandt made her debut at the U20 World Championships in 2010 at 55kg and remained a 53-55kg wrestler for long. At the 2019 World Championships, Hildebrandt failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics at 53kg and made the move to 50kg and qualified.

She went on to have one of most successful careers at 50kg, becoming the fourth Olympic champion for the United States in Women's Wrestling. She is only the second wrestler to win multiple medals at the Olympics for the U.S. after Helen MAROULIS (USA), who has three.

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