#WrestleAcapulco

WATCH: 10 freestyle finals from Pan-Am Championships

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 - 14:49 By Vinay Siwach

ACAPULCO, Mexico (May 11) -- The USA was defending champions in all 10 weight classes of freestyle wrestling at the Pan-American Championships which were held in Acapulco, Mexico.

They managed to repeat their golden performance in eight of the 10 weight categories while Canada won the remaining two gold medals at the tournament.

Capturing the top medal at all but 70kg and 125kg, the USA once again won the team title with 229 points. They were way clear of second-placer Canada which had 138 points. Puerto Rico finished third with 120 points.

Watch the 10 freestyle finals from the Pan-American Championships.

57kg: GOLD - Thomas GILMAN (USA) vs Darian CRUZ (PUR)

61kg: Round 1 - Daton FIX (USA) vs Joseph SILVA (PUR)

65kg: GOLD - Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) vs Joseph MC KENNA (USA)

65kg: GOLD - Vinicius DA SILVA JOAQUIM (BRA) vs Emmanuel OLAPADE (CAN)

74kg: GOLD - Kyle DAKE (USA) vs Franklin GOMEZ (PUR)

79kg: Round 1 - Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs Samuel BARMISH (CAN)

86kg: GOLD - Lazaro HERNANDEZ LUIS (CUB) vs Zahid VALENCIA (USA)

92kg: Round 1 - J'den COX (USA) vs Jeremy POIRIER (CAN)

97kg: GOLD - Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs Arturo SILOT (CUB)

125kg: GOLD - Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) vs Amarveer DHESI (CAN)

Habibi, Iran's first Olympic champion, dies aged 94

Monday, August 25, 2025 - 09:42 By United World Wrestling Press

TEHRAN, Iran (August 24) -- Emamali HABIBI (IRI), Iran's first-ever Olympic gold medalist and United World Wrestling Hall of Fame member, passed away Sunday aged 94.

Habibi was born Babol in 1931 and won the first Olympic gold medal for Iran in 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Facing Alimbeg BESTAEV in the final round to decide the gold medalist, Habibi secured a fall in the 67kg final and etched his name in history, became first Olympic champion for Iran.

It was a rare feat in those times as he had never wrestled at an international event before the Olympics. He would make his World Championships debut in 1959, winning gold medal at 73kg. He defended his title in 1961 and added a third gold medal in 1962 at 78kg.

Emamali HABIBI (IRI) with his World Championships gold medal.

He participated in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome at 73kg and finished fourth. Habibi also has a gold medal at the 1958 Asian Games, held in Tokyo, Japan.

Habibi's legacy also includes his diverse wrestling techniques and speed on the mat which allowed him to win bouts with domination. He is widely considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of his times. He was included in the UWW Hall of Fame in 2007 for his contribution to wrestling.

UWW offers its condolences to Iran Wrestling Federation and the Habibi family.