#Webinar

Webinar Schedule for October 12-18

By United World Wrestling Press

Refereeing webinars

Topic: Preparation of referee for a competition - Russian
Date: Thursday, 15 October
Time: 14:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 08:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Speaker: Noravard Arustamyan and Alexey Bazulin
Language: Russian
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/94885716695

Topic: Preparation of referee for a competition - French
Date: Thursday, 15 October
Time: 16:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 10:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Speaker: Kamel Bouaziz
Language: French
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/96977664271

Topic: Preparation of referee for a competition - Spanish
Date: Thursday, 15 October
Time: 18:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 12:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Speaker: Carlos Garcia and Eduardo Goncalves
Language: Spanish
Level: National and International Referees
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/99144308470

Coaching webinars

Topic: Training Plans: Theoretical Framework - French
Date: Tuesday, 13 October
Time: 16:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 10:00 - New York (Check your local time)
Speaker: Vincent Aka
Language: French
Level: National & Local Coaches
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/98391569910

Topic: Identifying Key Factors and Introducing New Skills- Arabic
Date: Saturday, 17 October
Time: 19:00 (Zurich) – 13:00 (New York) (Check your local time)
Speaker: Mohamed Ibrahim Abdelfattah
Language: Arabic
Target Audience: Local and National Coaches
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/91803384594 

Webinaires liés à l’arbitrage 

Thème: Préparation de l’arbitre à une compétition - Russe
Date: Jeudi 15 octobre
Heure: 14:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 08:00 - New York (Vérifier votre heure locale)
Conférencier: Noravard Arustamyan et Alexey Bazulin
Langue: Russe
Niveau: Arbitres nationaux et internationaux
Lien: https://zoom.us/j/94885716695

Thème: Préparation de l’arbitre à une compétition - Français
Date: Jeudi 15 octobre
Heure: 16:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 10:00 - New York (Vérifier votre heure locale)
Conférencier: Kamel Bouaziz
Langue: Français
Niveau: Arbitres nationaux et internationaux
Lien: https://zoom.us/j/96977664271

Thème: Préparation de l’arbitre à une compétition - Espagnole
Date: Jeudi 15 octobre
Heure: 18:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 12:00 - New York (Vérifier votre heure locale)
Conférencier: Carlos Garcia et Eduardo Goncalves
Langue: Espagnole
Niveau: Arbitres nationaux et internationaux
Lien: https://zoom.us/j/99144308470

Webinaires de coaching

Thème: Planification de l’entraînement: Cadre théorique - Français
Date: Mardi 13 octobre
Heure: 16h00 - Zurich (UTC + 2) - 10h00 - New York (Vérifiez votre heure locale)
Conférencier: Vincent Aka
Langue: Français
Niveau: Entraîneurs nationaux et locaux
Lien: https://zoom.us/j/98391569910

Thème: Identifiés les facteurs clés et introduire de nouvelles compétences - Arabe
Date: Samedi 17 octobre
Heure: 19:00 - Zurich (UTC+2) – 13:00 - New York (Vérifier votre heure locale)
Conférencier: Mohamed Ibrahim Abdelfattah
Langue: Arabe
Niveau: Coaches nationaux et locaux
Lien: https://zoom.us/j/91803384594

#UWWAwards

UWW Breakout Wrestlers of 2025: Hidlay, Farokhi, Onishi

By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 14) -- The 2025 Breakout Wrestlers of the Year were not the ones anyone circled heading into the season. They weren’t the favorites, or the ones analysts picked to walk away from the season as world medalists.

They were the outsiders, largely unproven and underestimated. But that all changed in a single season when they smashed expectations, catapulting themselves into world-wide stardom with world-title runs that nobody saw coming.

Freestyle Breakout Performer of the Year: Trent HIDLAY (USA)

Before 2025, Hidlay had never climbed to the top of a podium at an international event. His  2025 season even began with more doubt than promise, dropping his second match of the year to rising Azeri phenom Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) at the Zagreb Open. But that loss lit a fuse. From that moment on, the 26-year-old didn’t just improve -- he transformed.

Hidlay unleashed a stunning 13-match win streak and collected gold medals at the Pan-American Championships, the Budapest Ranking Series and the World Championships. Along the way, he knocked off giants -- Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), and Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), just to name a few.

Then came the finale: a world finals comeback for the ages. Down and all but finished, Hidlay stormed back to defeat Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW). In one year, Hidlay didn’t just win -- he arrived.

Greco-Roman Breakout Performer of the Year: Gholemreza FAROKHI (IRI)

When opportunity knocked, Farokhi wasn’t just there to answer it, he was there to kick the door off its hinges. The 23-year-old stepped into Iran’s senior lineup for the first time in his career and tore through anyone in front of him -- whether it was at 82kg or 87kg.

Farokhi bulldozed his way to gold medals at the two World Championships he participated in. He racked up a perfect 17-0 record, including 11 technical superiority wins and six decisions, sweeping gold at the World Championships, U23 World Championships, the Islamic Solidarity Games, and the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

Women’s Wrestling Breakout Performer of the Year: Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

At 19 years old, Onishi entered the senior circuit with massive goals but had zero experience and zero fear. In mere months, she became a problem no one had an answer for.

Onishi tore through the season with a flawless 15-0 record, capturing titles at the Senior and U20 World Championships, the Asian Championships, and the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. Her dominance wasn’t subtle -- it was exactly what you’d expect from a Japanese women’s wrestler -- 11 tech falls, three pins, and a decision, outscoring opponents 158-17.