#WrestleKrasnoyarsk

WATCH: '22 Ivan Yariguin Gold-Medal Finals

By Eric Olanowski

KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 31) -- The Russian Federation dominated wrestling's Winter Classic in the central Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk over the weekend, winning nine of ten freestyle gold medals at the Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin.

The lone non-Russian gold medalist was Kyle SNYDER (USA). The Rio Olympic gold medalist and Tokyo Olympic runner-up won gold at 97kg and claimed his third Yariguin title. "Capitan American" downed Shamil MUSAEV (RUS), 8-3, and picked up his first Yariguin gold medal since '18.

On the women's wrestling side of the competition, Russia, Mongolia, the United States, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan shared the gold-medal wealth. Still, it was the host nation who claimed a tournament-best four titles.

Russia's four champs were Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (50kg)Irina OLOGONOVA (55kg), Khanum VALIEVA (68kg) and Ksenia BURAKOVA (72kg).

Mongolia, led by Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist BAT-OCHIR Bolortuya, won 53kg and 62kg gold. Bat-Ochir grabbed the 53kg title while SUKHE Tserenchimed (MGL) picked up the highest hardware at 62kg.

Helen MAROULIS (USA) and Patricia BRUNTIL (USA) were the United States' pair of champs. Maroulis, the Rio Olympic gold medalist and Tokyo Olympic bronze-medal finisher, earned an injury default win in the 57kg finals, while Bruntil stopped fellow American Forrest MOLINARI (USA), 4-2, in the 65kg finals.

The final pair of women's golds went to Alena KOLESNIK (AZE) and Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ). They ended the competition atop the podium at 59kg and 76kg, respectively.

Freestyle Final Results:
57kg. Ramiz GAMZATOV (RUS) df. Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS), 5-2
61kg - Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df.Fedor BALTUEV (RUS), 9-8
65kg - Shamil MAMMADOV (RUS)  df. Ramazan FERZALIEV (RUS), 8-6
70kg - Victor RASSADIN (RUS) df. Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS), 9-4
74kg - Chermen VALIEV (RUS) df. Jason NOLF (USA), 6-1
79kg - Radik VALIEV (RUS) df. Malik SHAVAEV (RUS), 3-1
86kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) df. Amanula RASULOV (RUS), 6-0
92kg - Guram CHERTKOEV (RUS) df. Tamerlan TAPSIEV (RUS), 2-0 
97kg - Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Shamil MUSAEV (RUS), 8-3
125kg - Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) df. Vitaly GOLOEV (RUS), 8-7

Women's Wrestling Final Results:
50kg - Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS) df. Anzhelika FEDOROVA (RUS), 10-0 
53kg - BAT-OCHIR Bolortuya (MGL) df. GANBAATAR Otgonzhargal (MGL), 9-0
55kg - Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) df. Ekaterina ISAKOVA (RUS), 10-0 
57kg - Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), via injury default
59kg - Alena KOLESNIK (AZE) df. Zhargalma TSYRENOVA (RUS), 6-3
62kg - SUKHE Tserenchimed (MGL) df. Macy KILTY eelty (USA), 11-0
65kg - Patricia BRUNTIL (USA) df. Forrest MOLINARI (USA), 4-2 
68kg - Khanum VALIEVA (RUS) df. Tatyana SMOLOYK (RUS), 4-0
72kg - Ksenia BURAKOVA (RUS) df. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), via fall 
76kg - Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Ksenia DZIBUK (BLR), 15-4 

#development

UWW raises awareness around 'Safe Sport' with Belgrade booth

By United World Wrestling Press

BELGRADE, Serbia (October 4) --- United World Wrestling established a 'Safe Sport' booth in the warm-up area at the 2023 World Championships, to raise awareness on crucial subjects related to Anti-Doping and Safeguarding Athletes.

Athletes, coaches, and physicians had the opportunity to scan a QR code and complete a 20-question quiz available in four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Russian. Upon completing the quiz, participants received a small gift branded with empowering messages like 'Empower, Protect, Wrestle with Respect' or 'We Wrestle Clean.'

This initiative proved to be a tremendous success, with more than 300 athletes participating in the online quiz. This figure represents approximately one-fourth of the total number of athletes present at the event.

Arsen JULFALAKYAN, Chair of the UWW Athletes Commission, played a crucial role in emphasizing the significance of creating a safe environment for all individuals engaged in wrestling. He stressed the importance of Athletes Safeguarding and asserted that it should be a shared concern for everyone involved in our sport. Mr. Julfalakyan also emphasized that we bear the responsibility of educating and empowering athletes with the ultimate goal of establishing a secure and inclusive environment in which all participants in the world of wrestling are respected, valued, and protected.