#Kiev2018

Lalovic Visits Kiev for Inspection of Euro Cadet C’Ships

Monday, March 12, 2018 - 21:34 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (March 12) – United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC and UWW-Europe president Tzeno TZENOV traveled to Kiev last week to inspect the hosting conditions for the 2018 European Cadet Championships  to be held in April.

"It is very important for Ukraine as this championship is qualification on Youth Olympic Games which will be held in Argentina in October of this year,” said Lalovic, a member of the IOC executive board. “I know that they will do an exceptional job of hosting.”

"We have an experience of holding serious European sports competitions. Last year we have organized the European Boxing Championship in Kharkiv and the European championship on a diving in Kyiv,” said Igor RAYNIN, Head of Presidential Administration. “This year we will organize two finals of the Champions League of UEFA. And, certainly, the European Cadet Wrestling Championship - we are capable to organize at the high international level.”

Raynin also noted that the all-European sporting event much attention from the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the Kiev city administration and the Ukrainian Wrestling Association.

Raynin said the preparation for competitions of such level the conditions guaranteeing safety and respect for each athlete in full accordance with the international rules and the current legislation of Ukraine will be created.

The parties have reached the agreement that national federations of the countries which plan to be presented in the European Wrestling Championship have to submit the application for participation of the athletes in due time.

The Minister of youth and sport of Ukraine Igor ZHADNOV and the first vice-president of Ukrainian Wrestling Association Alexandr DOROVSKOY also participated in the meeting.

Lalovic and Tzenov had also meetings with Vice-Prime Minister of Ukraine Vyacheslav KYRYLENKO where they discussed all outstanding questions connected with organization of future European Cadet Wrestling Championship in Kyiv.

"Last year Ukraine has held a number of sports competitions of the international level - the World Ice Hockey Championship in the IA division, the European Boxing Championship, the European diving championship,” said Kyrelenko. “And we will do everything possible that this Championship have taken place at the high level.”

#UWWAwards

UWW Breakout Wrestlers of 2025: Hidlay, Farokhi, Onishi

Monday, December 15, 2025 - 12:24 By Eric Olanowski

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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.