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UWW Announces LA 2028 Olympic Qualification Calendar

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 13:37 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 1) -- United World Wrestling has announced the calendar for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification.

As previously announced, the LA 2028 qualification cycle will include four Ranking Series events, 2027 and 2028 continental championships, 2027 World Championships, the 2028 continental qualifiers and the 2028 World Olympic Qualifier.

The first event of the Olympic qualification cycle will be the 1st Ranking Series event in February 2027. The Ranking Series event will be held in a new seven-day format from February 15 to 21.

It will be followed by the 2027 continental championships beginning with Asian Championships from March 30 to April 4. European Championships will be held from April 5 to 11, followed by the African Champions from April 12 to 18.

The Oceania Championships will be held from April 23 to 25 and the Pan-American Championships will go on from April 28 to May 2.

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Once the continental championships are done, the Ranking Series will return with the second stop to be held from May 31 to June 6. The third and final Ranking Series event of 2027 will be held from July 19 to 25. Both these events will also be held in a seven-day format.

The last event of 2027 that will offer ranking points will be the 2027 Senior World Championships, to be held from September 11 to 19. Medalists in the 18 Olympic weight classes at the 2027 World Championships will earn a LA 2028 quota for their respective NOCs.

2027 Events for Rankings Points

1st Ranking Series: February 15-21
Asian Championships: March 30-April 4
European Championships: April 5-11
African Championships: April 12-18
Oceania Championships: April 23-25
Pan-American Championships: April 28-May 2
2nd Ranking Series: May 31-June 6
3rd Ranking Series: July 19-25
World Championships: September 11-19

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The qualification cycle will continue in 2028 with the first and only Ranking Series event. It will be held from January 17 to 23.

More ranking points will be awarded at the 2028 continental championships. The Oceania Championships will start from February 18 to 20, followed by the Pan-American Championships from February 24 to 27.

The European Championships will be next from February 28 to March 5 and soon after the Asian Championships will commence from March 6 to 12. The African Championships will be held from March 14 to 19.

2028 Events for Rankings Points

Ranking Series: January 17-23
Oceania Championships: February 18-20
Pan-American Championships: February 24-27
European Championships: February 28-March 5
Asian Championships: March 6-12
African Championships: March 14-19

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic quotas based on rankings will be allocated after the end of the African Championships.

The qualification cycle will then move to continental Olympic qualifiers where the finalists will earn direct quotas for respective NOCs. At the World Olympic Qualifier, the gold medal winner will earn direct quota for the NOC.

The African & Oceania Olympic Qualifiers will kick-off this phase and it will be held from March 24 to 26.

The Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers will be held from March 31 to April 2 and the European Olympic Qualifiers from April 7 to 9. The last continental qualifiers will be the Asian Olympic Qualifiers to be held from April 14 to 16.

After a month's break, the World Olympic Qualifiers, the last chance, will be held from May 18 to 21.

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Olympics Qualifiers

African & Oceania Olympic Qualifiers: March 24-26
Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers: March 31-April 2
European Olympic Qualifiers: April 7-9
Asian Olympic Qualifiers: April 14-16
World Olympic Qualifiers: May 18-21

Wresting at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will be held from July 24 to 30.

The location of the all the events will be communicated by UWW in due time. For details of events, visit uww.org/events.

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I Want to Win Second Olympic Gold at LA 2028: Higuchi

Friday, May 22, 2026 - 10:59 By United World Wrestling Press

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TOKYO (May 22) -- Paris Olympic champion at 57kg Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) returned to competition for the 2026 Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in Tokyo. After reaching the 61kg final on Saturday, Higuchi defeated Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), 3-0, in the gold medal bout.

Normally, the two should have wrestle off to earn a spot on the Japan team for the 2026 World Championships. However, Higuchi withdrew from the play-off to everyone's surprise. He later talked to the press. Excerpts:

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-- On withdrawing from World Championships wrestle-off against Hasegawa

Higuchi: In December, the qualifying process at 57kg starts for [the 2028] Los Angeles [Olympics]. There is the World Championships, but all I am thinking of is a second straight title in Los Angeles. Strategically speaking, I have six months from now to get my body ready and drop to 57kg, and I want to give that priority. That's how I came to this decision."

-- On his performance at the Meiji Cup

Higuchi: I tried various new takedowns, and I was able to apply pressure in the clinch as well. I think it went pretty well, more or less. There was one throw I felt I could have executed better, and there were a few other areas where I wanted to finish things off more decisively. I guess there’s a mix of things to reflect on and things that went well. It feels like a bit of a mixed bag. 

-- On his return after 21 months since 2024 Paris Olympics

Higuchi: It was definitely fun. It was my first match in a long time, so I was really excited and nervous, but I’m not the type to feel too much pressure. Even as an Olympic champion, how should I put it?, I’m sure there were people hoping for an upset, but whether I win or lose, the fact that I’m an Olympic gold medalist doesn’t change. So in that sense, I was able to let go of the pressure and really enjoy the wrestling.

-- On his physical health

Higuchi: In the first match, I definitely felt like my legs were really heavy. It had been a while since my last match, and it had been a while since I’d reduce weight too. There were moments where I wondered, “Is this really okay?” But by the second match, the semifinal, I was gradually finding my rhythm and moving well. I really feel it was great that I was able to compete once six months ago, rather than starting all of a sudden this December.

-- On any improvements for future

Higuchi: First of all, I need to build a body that’s properly suited for the 57kg weight class. It’s been a while since I’ve competed, so I didn’t perform as well as I’d hoped. I think if I refocus and tighten up my game, I’ll be able to deliver an even better performance. I really want to get back to training soon. It was so much fun. It’s been a while, but I feel like I can pull off all sorts of new moves and do so much more, so I’m eager to get back to training. 

-- On motivation for LA 2028

Higuchi: There’s only one person in the history of Japanese wrestling [Freestyle] who has won back-to-back Olympic gold medals. My goal is to become the strongest wrestler in the history of Japanese wrestling. In terms of records. There are many great predecessors, but I want to break their records. I want to become the kind of figure where people say, “Rei Higuchi was the strongest in Japanese wrestling history.”

I want to wrap things up by winning two consecutive gold medals in Los Angeles.