#wrestlenursultan

Wrestling Releases Media and Fan Guide for 2019 Senior World Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (September 10) – In an effort to better serve the press and the sport’s growing fan base, United World Wrestling has released its Media and Fan Guide for the 2019 Wrestling World Championships held September 14-22 at the Barys Arena in Nur-Sultan.

The guide has several helpful features for fans or media looking to learn more about the championships including the tournament schedule, links to prior results, downloadable event photos, graphics, entry lists, seeding, and a glimpse at all the anticipated matchups across the 30 championship weight categories.

Users can choose to download a PDF version of the guide, or access the most recent version of the guide via Google Docs, HERE.

New to this year’s guide is a direct link to a searchable photo database with images from United World Wrestling’s top photographers. Outlets and individuals are kindly asked to attribute any published photos to United World Wrestling, the photographer, and any associated social media accounts. For ease of reference the guide also includes links to all United World Wrestling social media accounts.

Wrestling at the 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships is set to begin September 14 and will continue for nine days, concluding September 22. For a full, day-by-day schedule, please see below.

Tournament Schedule

Date                                         Preliminary Rds            Gold, Bronze Finals      
Saturday, September 14:          GR: 55-63-72-82kg                     //
Sunday, September 15:            GR: GR: 67-87-97kg       GR: 55-63-72-82kg
Monday, September 16:           GR: 60-77-130kg             GR: 67-87-97kg
Tuesday, September 17:          WW: 50-53-55-72kg        GR: 60-77-130kg          
Wednesday, September 18:     WW: 57-59-65-76kg        WW: 50-53-55-72kg     
Thursday, September 19:         WW: 62-68/FS: 57-65     WW: 57-59-65-76kg     
Friday, September 20:              FS: 70-74-92-125kg        FS: 57-65kg /WW: 62-68kg                   
Saturday, September 21:          FS: 61-79-86-97kg          FS: 70-74-92-125kg
Sunday, September 22:                         //                         FS: 61-79-86-97kg

 

#UWWAwards

UWW History Makers of 2025: Kougioumtsidis, Reasco, Sultangali

By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 22) -- United World Wrestling has announced the History Makers of the Year 2025. The performance of these three wrestlers transcended competition and produced a once-in-a-generation accomplishment.

Freestyle’s History Maker 2025: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)

If there’s one nation that’s draped in sports tradition, it’s Greece, but surprisingly enough, the nation had never produced a male wrestling world champion.

Prior to 2025, wrestlers from Greece were 0-3 in gold-medal matches and had not reached a world finals since 1991. Then came 23-year-old Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS who stunned the world by defeating Levi HAINES (USA) 3-2 in the 79kg final to become his nation’s first-ever world champion.

Up until Kougioumtsidis' victory, Georgios ATHANASSIADIS (GRE) lost both of his world finals matches and Iraklis DESKOULIDIS (GRE) lost the final in 1991. The lone Greek woman to ever step to the top of the medal podium at the World Championships was Sofia POUMPOURIDOU (GRE), who won the women's 51kg gold on home soil in 2002.

"I'm very lucky that I am Greek," Kougioumtsidis said. "So I feel like I made all Greeks proud. I am Greek and I love my country." He continued, saying, “I'm the first male [from Greece] who won a gold medal at the World Championships. It's my dream come true. I think this year is a good achievement. I achieved my goal."

Women’s Wrestling History Maker: Genesis REASCO (ECU)

Reasco made history by becoming Ecuador's first-ever world champion, which came two years following Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) silver-medal finish at the 2023 World Championships where she still become the Ecuador's first-ever world medalist.

Reasco reached the pinnacle of the sport with a 4-2 victory in the 76kg final over two-time world medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), which came one match removed from knocking off Paris bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN (CUB) in the semifinals.

"I went in, gave my all, and it worked," Reasco said. "That’s how the gold medal was achieved, because honestly, I have a lot of respect for all my opponents. They gave everything out there on the mat, and they were really good matches -- both yesterday’s and today’s. Everything was very tough, very close."

Greco-Roman’s History Maker: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ)

Sultangali ended a 26-year Greco-Roman drought, giving Kazakhstan their first Greco world champion since 1999 with a very quick victory over Uzbek youngster Alisher GANIEV (UZB) in the 60kg finals at the World Championships.

Sultangali, who won two world bronze medals between 2018 and 2022, only needed 1:07 to cap off masterful first-period 9-0 win over Asian runner-up GANIEV (UZB).

"I didn’t plan to win the final match so easily and quickly," Sultangali said. "But it happened. Today is a historic day for our country because the last gold medal for Kazakhstan came in 1999, 26 years ago," said Sultangali, "I am happy that my country is happy."