PARIS (August 23) – United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC opened his press conference Tuesday night with words of praise for newly crowned world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER), and the organizing committee of the 2017 Wrestling World Championships in Bercy.
“I would like to congratulate Frank on his medal, but also on the way he wrestled to become victorious,” said Lalovic referring to the German’s technical, athletic style of Greco-Roman wrestling. “This is the way that Greco-Roman wrestling should be,” added Lalovic.
Staebler, who won his second world title the night before in dominating Demeu ZHADRAYEV of Kazakhstan, 8-3, received the words with humility explaining he was interested in putting on a good show for fans.
“Sometimes other wrestlers can focus too much on the tactics – the poker of the sport. I know that they have to change their methods to wrestle me, because I am very aggressive,” said Staebler.
Lalovic perhaps reserved his highest praises for the city of Paris and the organizing committee of the 2017 Wrestling World Championships.
“We now have a new standard for the sport of wrestling,” said Lalovic referring to the Olympic-level sports presentation and professionalism of the championships. “We are aware that there will always be challenges and for Paris it was security, but they have met their challenge and exceled.”
The championships will close on Saturday, August 26, after two days of women’s wrestling and two days of freestyle.
