Medical Conference

Wrestling Holds Medicine Conference; Commission Announces Key Collaboration

Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 14:00 By United World Wrestling Press

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BUDAPEST (October 29) -- The World Wrestling Medicine Conference and Team Physician Course Program met last week in Budapest with 65 participants from 35 countries delivering a total of 22 presentations, 16 courses and one on-the-mat workshop over the program’s three days of events.

The conference was chaired and directed by Dr. Babak Shadgan and Dr. Szabolcs Molnar of the United World Wrestling (UWW) Medical and Anti-Doping Commission. 



A variety of topics were introduced across the three-days of conference presentations and team physician lectures. Prof. Dr. Nicola Maffulli focused on understanding, managing and preventing common injuries in wrestling, while Dr. Amir Pakravan tackled overuse and fatigue syndrome in wrestling; Dr. Eckart Diezemann focused on spinal injuries; and Dr. Reza Naghavi on the transmission of bloodborne illnesses. Other talks included reviews of prevention of common wrestling injuries, proper sports nutrition and updates on anti-doping regulations. 

Dr. Shadgan presented on the importance of proper referee decisions in stopping dangerous actions, and prevention of wrestling injuries. 

The conference also welcomed Kirsty Burrows (IOC consultant) and Dr. Judith Goss who brought attention to the discussion of on athlete safeguard and psychological harm in sports.



UWW 1S Referee and dentist Dr. Aviram Schmuely discussed about dental injuries and prevention in wrestling, also providing his refereeing point of view on medical issues.

When the Medical Commission met on Sunday the discussions focused on the review of the medical coverage the 2019 events, review of the recorded injuries, possibility for UWW certified team doctors to enter the FOP, the anti-doping program and the opportunity for developing Wrestling for visually impaired athletes.

The medical management of Wrestling competition was also discussed with the aim of helping doctors of local organizing committees earn proper training to take care of the medical coverage necessary for national and international tournaments. Dr. Pakravan also lead a discussion on how to properly care for an injured athlete when they are unable to leaver the mat on their own power, and Dr. Akos Santha discussed the principles of travel medications for teams.

The UWW Medical Commission also met in Budapest, announcing a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Sponsor Defense Soap.
 

Defense Soap CEO Guy Sako presented a document sharing his knowledge and experience on the prevention, education and treatment of skin infections within wrestlers. The research was then wrapped into an agreement between United World Wrestling and Defense Soap to develop an established Hygiene protocol for international wrestling to implement by the summer of 2020.

“This is a first for United World Wrestling Medical Commission to work closely with a sponsor that has extensive field knowledge and to work together to develop something positive long-term for the well-being of wrestlers worldwide,” said Shadgan. “We are excited about the effort.”

2026 World Championships

Maroulis, Dake, Snyder Make U.S. Team for 2026 World Championships

Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 08:53 By United World Wrestling Press

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NEWARK, New Jersey, United States -- Four-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) returned to the United States team for the World Championships after three years after beating defending world champion Zahid VALENCIA (USA) in best-of-three series at 86kg on Friday.

Dake overcame a round one loss to take two straight matches from Valencia at the 2026 Final X, the World Championships selection tournament for the U.S.

Apart from Dake, world champions Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Helen MAROULIS (USA) also made the team and will look to defend their gold medals in Astana, Kazakhstan from October 24 to November 1.

Paris Olympic champion will also be eyeing her third world title after she got a forfeit in her matches to make the team the at 72kg. Now a mother of four-month old child, Elor has not wrestled internationally since the gold medal win in Paris in August 2024.

United StatesThe eight winners of Final X on Friday. (Photo: USA Wrestling / Tony Rotundo)

Dake, who lost the first bout to Valencia 3-2, returned to win 4-1 and 4-0 in second and third bouts to lock up his place at 86kg.

Snyder also had to go the distance to beat Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) at 97kg. Buchanan snuck in a 5-5 criteria win in round two, before Snyder rebounded with a controlled 9-3 decision in round three.

For a second-straight year, Maroulis faced Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) at 57kg in Women's Wrestling and it was much closer this time around. Maroulis defeated Martinez, 8-1 and 6-0, for two straight wins.

A few young stars also made the team and will be taking their first trip to the senior World Championships.

Among the top battles was at 61kg in which U20 world champion Marcus BLAZE (USA) defeated U23 world champion Jaxen FORREST (USA) in three bouts.

Blaze managed a 2-2 criteria win over Forrest in the first bout before the latter bounced back with a 6-1 win in the second. Blaze locked the third bout with a 5-2 win.

United StatesThe eight Final X winners in Women's Wrestling on Friday. (Photo: USA Wrestling / Tony Rotundo)

At 50kg in Women's Wrestling, U17 world champion Morgan TURNER (USA) took out Katie GOMEZ (USA) in three bouts. The 18-year-old won the first bout over Gomez 7-2 before dropping the second 3-2. However, dictated the third one and finished as an 8-2 winner.

With the win, Turner has qualified to represent the U.S. at the U20, U23 and Senior World Championships this year.

A second 18-year-old high school graduate, Everest LEYDECKER (USA), won at 55kg in straight matches. The U20 world champion defeated Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA), 2-1 and 3-1, to make her first senior-level world team.

In other Women's Wrestling matches, former world medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) got the better of Jennifer PAGE (USA) in two matches, 7-2 and 5-1.

At 59kg, Abigail NETTE (USA) dominated Alexis JANIAK (USA) in both matches, beating her via fall in first and 10-0 in the second. Former U20 world champion Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) also dominant in her bouts at 53kg, beating Elena IVALDI (USA), 10-0 and 9-0.

The 62kg series went back-and-forth as Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) defeated Macey KILTY (USA). She pinned Kilty in the first bout before losing the second 4-0. In a thrilling third bout, Nwachukwu held on to a 4-3 win.

In Freestyle, Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) will being once again look to win his first world medal after making the team at 57kg. He won 7-1 and 8-4 over Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) who had defeated Lee at the U.S. Open.

World silver medalist Levi HAINES (USA) went 6-1 and 6-3 against Chance MARSTELLER (USA) at 79kg to secure his spot. He will look to change the colour of his medal that he won in his debut World Championships last year.

Veteran James GREEN (USA) will represent the U.S. at 74kg after he defeated David CARR (USA), two bouts to one. James won the first bout 6-3 before Carr levelled it with a 6-5 win. But Green defeated Carr 4-1 to secure his spot.

At 70kg, former world champion Zain RETHERFORD (USA) will also return to the mega event after blanking Ridge LOVETT (USA), 2-1 and 8-2.

Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) will wrestle at 125kg after he defeated former world medalist Mason PARRIS (USA), 9-5 and 7-1.

World champion Trent HIDLAY (USA) had already secured his spot at 92kg spot last week with a series win over Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA) as the series was rescheduled earlier due to Hidlay's wedding.

The 65kg selection between 2025 world bronze medalist Real WOODS (USA) and Bowen BASSETT (USA) has been delayed and will be contested at a date and location to be determined.

In a similar case, 2025 world bronze medalists Kennedy BLADES (USA) and Kylie WELKER (USA) requested and received medical delays for their match-ups against Isabella MIR (USA) at 68kg and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) at 76kg, respectively.