Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! July 30, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing the outcome of the colossal match-up between Chamizo and Burroughs and Dake and Taylors Yasar Dogu dominance. Also taking a look at a new 76kg title contender and the Junior European Championships in Rome, Italy. 

1. Chamizo Outlasts Burroughs in Epic Shootout to Win Yasar Dogu Gold Medal
Nearly four months ago, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) posted a photo on Instagram with the caption “If you want to be the king, you have to beat the king.” On Saturday, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) did just that, getting his revenge against the London Olympic champion in front of a sold out Bağcılar Olympic Sport Hall in Istanbul, Turkey.

Chamizo, the two-time world champion avenged his loss to Burroughs from May’s Beat the Streets in New York City, outlasting the four-time world champion 10-10 on criteria to win the 74kg Yasar Dogu gold medal. 

After the match, Chamizo took to Instagram, posting a picture with the following caption, “Four months. It took Four months to climb up to the top of the world in the 74kg weight class. It was brand new for me, I had great opponents to face, but here we are. I can’t wait for Budapest, it’s time to fight and this time there can be only one.” 

With this weekend’s win, Chamizo evens up the series at one apiece. The next time these two could potentially meet would be in October at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Click HERE for full story. 


David TAYLOR (USA) picked up four pins on his way to the Yasar Dogu gold medal. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

2. Dake and Taylor Trample Competition as USA Edges Iran to Win Yasar Dogu Team Title
First-time world team representatives Kyle DAKE (USA) and David TAYLOR (USA) thumped the competition, picking up seven falls and a technical superiority victory on their way to winning gold medals at the 46th Annual Yasar Dogu. 

In the finals, Dake squared off against junior world bronze medalist Ibrahim YUSUBOV (AZE). The American used three takedowns, and a pair of gut wrenches to end the gold-medal bout 11-0 in the opening period. This win gave Dake his third overall international gold medal (2014 Granma Cup and 2017 Grand Prix of Paris).

Fellow American David Taylor, the 2018 Pan-American champion also cruised to a gold medal, tallying four dominating wins via fall in route to winning the 86kg gold medal.

The second-ranked wrestler in the world took less than 90 seconds to trample Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE) in the finals. In addition to the Ivan Yarygin and Pan-American gold medal, this is Taylor’s third individual gold medal of the year.

Team Scores 
GOLD - United States (150 points) 
SILVER - Iran (146 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (125 points)
Fourth - Azerbaijan (121 points)
Fifth - Ukraine 117 points)

Click HERE for full story. 


Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) defeated two Olympic champions at the 2018 Yasar Dogu. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

3. Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) Strings Together Championship Run that Included Beating Two Olympic Champions and a U23 World Champion 

Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE), the 2017 world bronze medalist went 3-0 and beat a 2017 European champion and two Olympic champions on his way to making the 97kg finals.

Alborov opened his day against fellow countryman, Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) who is a two-time Olympic medalist, winning the gold in London and bronze in Rio.

The 2017 world bronze medalist came out on top 1-0 in a match-up that likely determined who is going to represent Azerbaijan in October at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest.

Alborov continued his run into the quarterfinals, picking up the dominant 9-2 win over 2017 European Champion, Riza YILDIRIM (TUR).

Moving to the semifinals, Alborov avenged his 2017 World Championship semifinals loss to 2016 Rio Olympic champion, Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA), picking up the 3-3 win on criteria. 

In the gold-medal bout, Alborov capped off his unthinkable championship run by shutting out U23 world champion and Asian runner-up, Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI), 10-0. 


Aline FOCKEN (GER) proves that she is a 76kg title contender after beating reigning world champion, Aline FOCKEN (GER). (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

4. Focken Claims Yasar Dogu Gold, Upsets Reigning  World Champion Adar 
Aline FOCKEN (GER), 2017 69kg world runner-up defeated 2017 world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR), 5-3 to win the 76kg #YasarDogu2018 gold medal. With her win this weekend, Focken adds another title contender into the 76kg #Budapest2018 mix. 

In addition to Focken and reigning world champion, Adar, 76kg will also feature four-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) and Canada’s Rio Olympic champion Erica WIEBE.

To display just how open this weight class is, here are five head-to-head results from the four title contenders. 

Head-to-head Match-ups 
Yasemin ADAR (TUR) beat Erica WIEBE (CAN) at the Klippan Lady Open
Adeline GRAY (USA)  Beats Yasemin ADAR (TUR) Klippan Lady Open
Erica WIEBE (CAN) beat Adeline GRAY (USA) at the Canada Cup 

Aline FOCKEN (GER), beats Yasemin ADAR (TUR) at the Yasar Dogu 
Adeline GRAY (USA)  beat Aline FOCKEN (GER) Klippan Lady Open

5. Junior European Championships Begin Monday 
The 2018 European Junior Championships begins at the Centro Olimpico – PalaPellicone Monday, July 30 in Rome, Italy. Greco-Roman wrestling kicks off the championships, followed by women’s wrestling. Finally, freestyle closes out the tournament that concludes on August 05. 

Click here for full SCHEUDLE 

Weekly FIVE! In Social Medal 

1. Big Move Monday! #takedown #doubleleg #throw #wrestling#mma #mixedmartialarts

2. “Yasar Dogu Team Champs ?? ??.” ?: @magicman_psu

3. “Who is the man....” ?: @frankchamizo92

4. What’s your favorite sport? #Wrestling ?‍♀️ ?‍♂️

When the wrestling room is too hot, take the mat lakeside! ?: Holly Tappe on Facebook

#WrestleParis

Youngest wrestlers heading to Paris 2024

By Eric Olanowski

PARIS, France (July 15) — As we approach the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (August 5-11), fans' attention will be split between the already-established stars and a promising new wave of Olympians aiming to make their mark in history.

Out of the 290 athletes (288 athletes + 2 refugees) bound for Paris 2024, 19 wrestlers under 21 can potentially become some of the youngest Olympic champions ever. Here’s how they break down by age:

18 years old: 1 wrestler
19 years old: 1 wrestler
20 years old: 5 wrestlers
21 years old: 12 wrestlers

Women’s wrestling dominates the youth spotlight, boasting the six youngest wrestlers in the field. There are 19 competitors under 21 years old, with freestyle and Greco-Roman each having seven wrestlers under this age bracket.

Xu WANG (CHN) remains the youngest-ever Olympic champion in women’s wrestling, a record now standing for over two decades. Wang clinched the 72kg gold at the Athens 2004  Games at just 18 years, 10 months and 27 days old.

Among the Paris contenders, Sol Gum PAK (PRK) stands out as the only wrestler young enough to challenge Wang’s enduring record. Born on November 2, 2005, Pak will compete in the 68kg category on August 5, with a chance to break the record on August 6. If she reaches the gold-medal bout, she’ll be 18 years, 9 months and 4 days old, surpassing Wang by 1 month and 23 days.

While Pak aims for history, rising star Antim Antim (IND) can also make waves in women’s wrestling by potentially surpassing Kaori ICHO (JPN) with a gold medal in the 53kg category. 

Antim, at 19 years, 11 months and 8 days, would edge out Icho’s age of 20 years, 2 months and 10 days during her Athens 2004 victory.

Elsewhere, young talents and reigning world champions Amit ELOR (USA), Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) and Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) will also be looking to leave a last impression on the record books.

Fujinami, who heads into Paris with a 120+ match winning streak, is the third youngest women’s wrestler. If Fujinami, the two-time world champion, comes out on top as most expect, she’d move into the No. 4 slot on the list, just ahead of London 2012 champ Natalya VOROBIEVA (RUS), who won at 21 years, 2 months and 13 days old. 

Fujinami would be 21 years and 10 months old on the day of the 53kg finals.

If Elor, aged 20 years, 7 months, and 4 days, secures victory in the 68kg bracket on August 6, she will become the third-youngest women’s wrestling Olympic champion, beating Jiao WANG’s age by nine days (20 years, 7 months, and 13 days).

Ozaki is aiming for a top-five spot, potentially overtaking Risako KAWAI (JPN), who was 21 years, 8 months, and 28 days old during her Rio 2016 victory. Ozaki, at 21 years, 4 months, and 13 days, could achieve this if she triumphs in France.

In Greco-Roman wrestling, Islambek ALBIEV (RUS) holds the record as the youngest Olympic gold medalist, set at the Beijing 2008 Games at 19 years, 7 months and 15 days old. 

Saied ESMAEILI, turning 21 on July 15, is the youngest competitor in the Greco-Roman field for Paris 2024. While Esmaeili is “too old” to challenge the top six spots, he could potentially become the seventh-youngest Greco-Roman Olympic champion, surpassing Boris GUREVICH’s (URS) age of 21 years, 4 months, and 4 days if he wins the 67kg final on August 8.

In freestyle wrestling, Aman AMAN (IND), Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), and Rahman AMOUZAD are the youngest contenders on the entry list. 

Aman, presently 20 years old but is turning 21 on July 16, is the youngest freestyle wrestler. He isn’t within reach of the youngest-ever title, currently held by Saban TRSTENA (YUG), who won gold at 19 years, 7 months and 9 days in Los Angeles 1984. But if Aman wins gold on August 9-10, aged 21 years, 0 months, and 25 days, he will rank as the 11th youngest Olympic champion, overtaking George DE RELWYSKOW (GBR), who won gold at the 1908 London Games at 21 years, 1 month and 6 days old.

While Amouzad is just out of reach of breaking into the top 15, Tazhudinov, who’ll be 21 years,  7 months and 24 days old on August 11, would steal the No. 14 spot from Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) by seven days.

Wrestling at the Paris Olympic Games starts Agust 5-11 and can be followed on www.uww.org.

Top-15 youngest Paris 2024 Entries:
1. Sol Gum PAK (DPRK) - 18 years old | November 2, 2005 |WW
2. Antim Antim (IND) - 19 years old | August 31, 2004 |WW
3. Amit ELOR (USA) - 20 years old | January 1, 2004 |WW
4. Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)- 20 years old | November 1, 2003 | WW
5. Kennedy BLADES (USA) - 20 years old | September 4, 2003| WW
6. Gabija DILYTE (LTU) - 20 years old | September 3, 2003 | WW
7. Aman AMAN (IND) - 20 years old | July 16, 2003 | FS
8. Saied ESMAEILI (IRI) - 21 years old  | July 15, 2003 | GR 
9. Aurora RUSSO (ITA) - 21 years old | June 3, 2003 | WW
10. Nonoka Ozaki (JPN) - 21 years old | March 23, 2003 | WW
11. Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) - 21 years old | January 25, 2003 | FS
12. Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) - 21 years old | October 30, 2002 | GR 
13.Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) - 21 years old | October 5, 2002 | GR 
14. Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) - 21 years old | September 25, 2002 | WW
15. Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)- 22 years old | March 26, 2002 | FS