U.S. Wins Medals in All Weights to Sweep Freestyle Team Title

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (August 23) - It came close in 2024 but finished with nine medals. Two years later, the United States become the first country since 1988 to win medals in all Freestyle weight categories at the U20 World Championships.

With four gold, three silver and three bronze medals, the U.S. was well ahead of every other country and captured it's third straight team title. It finished at the top position with 205 points, 50 more than second-placed Russia which had 155 points. Japan was third with 130 points while Iran was fourth with 103 points.

Four out of the 10 medals for the U.S. came Sunday as 17-year-old Michael BOYLE (USA) won the 97kg gold, Jayden JAMES (USA) and Dreshaun ROSS (USA) collected silver medals, and Landon ROBIDEAU (USA) won bronze at 70kg.

In fact, it was Robideau's bronze medal that helped the U.S. make the historic record as all others were confirmed to have medals. This is also the first time that a country had won medals in all weight classes since the U20 World Championships have been held annually.

Wrestling Michael BOYLE (USA) Michael BOYLE (USA) scores a takedown against Rodion SANAKOEV (RUS) during the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Boyle's gold medal came against Rodion SANAKOEV (RUS) after the U.S. wrestler broke down Sanakoev and scored go-behind with utmost ease.

Sanakoev kept the underhook grip on Boyle who was put on the activity clock in the first period. Once Boyle did not score, Sanakoev led 1-0 but a stepout for Boyle gave him a 1-1 criteria lead at the break.

The second period was all about Boyle who opened with a stepout, then added two go-behind takedowns to lead 6-1. As Sanakoev kept shooting from far, it became extremely easy for Boyle to score. Boyle managed to finish the final, 12-2, with 1:08 remaining.

Wrestling Sina KHALILI (IRI) Sina KHALILI (IRI) celebrates after winning the 70kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran Wins 2 Golds

It was destiny that Sina KHALILI (IRI) met Haji KARIMOV (AZE) in the 70kg final of the U20 World Championships. At the 2025 U23 World Championships, Khalili lost to Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) in the final and collected a silver medal.

A former U17 world champion Khalili did not take any chances in the final against Karimov. He began the final on aggressive note and kept Karimov, who was soon called passive, on the backfoot.

Khalili worked on his snapdowns and scored a takedown for the first points of the final. He wrapped Karimov legs around his head and turned him three times to lead 7-0 in the first two minutes of the final.

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Khalili decided to switch his strategy in the second period and sat on his lead. Karimov managed a stepout and a takedown but that was never going to trouble Khalili, who captured the gold medal with a 7-3 score.

"I had some really tough opponents, including wrestlers from the United States and Azerbaijan," Khalili said. "They were strong competitors, but I was able to wrestle at my best and win the gold medal."

Khalili said that the final against an Azerbaijan wrestler gave him extra motivation to win the gold medal, especially after losing to Heybatov last year.

"Last year at the U23 Championships, I lost to Heybatov after one moment of carelessness," he said. "When I saw that the Azerbaijani wrestler had reached the final, I was even happier, and it gave me even more motivation."

Wrestling Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) became the U20 world champion at 125kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Making amends for the his last year's loss, U23 world champion Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) defeated Dreshaun ROSS (USA), 5-3, in the 125kg final and won the gold medal that he missed in 2025.

Ross was put on the activity clock after early hand-fighting and Mohammad Nezhad was in trouble when Ross caught his leg. However, the Iranian was quick to escape the hold and countered Ross for a stepout. Once the activity clock expired, Mohammad Nezhad led 2-0. A stepout later, it swelled to 3-0.

In the second period, Ross shot a double-leg but Mohammad Nezhad managed to counter it with a takedown to lead 5-0. Ross bounced back with a stepout and a takedown in the final five seconds but it was too little too late.