Reviewing Russia's sweep of the U23 European Championships and Wiebe's World Championship return. Also looking at Final X results, doubling up on European titles and an update to the ranking series events.
1. Russia Sweeps Team Titles at U23 European C'ships
On the heels of twelve individual gold medals, Russia captured team titles in freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's wrestling at the 2018 U23 European Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
In freestyle, Russia captured six freestyle gold medals and finished with at least a bronze medal in nine out of ten weight categories.
In Greco-Roman, the Russians grabbed three of the possible ten gold medals and walked away with hardware in seven weight classes.
The Russian women snagged a trio of U23 Euro gold medals and locked up three other medals, bringing their overall count to six medals.
Erica WIEBE (CAN), the 2016 Olympic Champion will make her World Championship return in Budapest, Hungary (Photo by Jack Adams)
2. Canada's Women's Wrestling World Team Set at Olympic Weights
Canada's women's wrestling Olympic weight world team trials took place this past weekend in Toronto, Canada and four wrestlers reclaimed their world team spot for the 2017 World Championships.
After sitting out of last years World Championships, Erica WIEBE (CAN), the 2016 Olympic champion will make her return to World-level competition.
Also of note, at 68kg Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) stopped 2016 Olympian Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) from making her second world team with a 4-1 victory.
2018 World Team
50kg – Jessica MACDONALD (CAN) *
53kg – Diana WEICKER (CAN) *
57kg – Alexandria TOWN (CAN)
62kg – Linda MORAIS (CAN) *
68kg – Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) *
76kg – Erica WIEBE (CAN)
* Returning world team members
Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) defeated Isaiah MARTINEZ (USA) in two matches to make his sixth world team. (Photo by Tony Rotundo)
3. Burroughs Makes Sixth World Team, Four Other World Medalists Headed to Budapest
In front of his home crowd, Olympic champion and defending world champion, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) made his sixth world team after defeating Isaiah MARTINEZ (USA) in two matches (4-1/11-1) at the Finals X in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Returning world medalists Thomas GILMAN (USA), James GREEN (USA), Alli RAGAN (USA) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) were also successful in making back-to-back world teams.
Freestyle 2018 World Team
57kg – Thomas GILMAN (USA)
70kg – James GREEN (USA)
74kg – Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)
97kg – Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Women's Wrestling 2018 World Team
55kg – Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)
59kg – Alli RAGAN (USA)
68 kg – Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA)
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) added a U23 gold medal to her 2018 senior-level Euro title from Dagestan, Russia. (Photo by Martin Gabor)
4. Dudova and Mihut Double up on European Titles
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) joined 63kg Greco-Roman champion Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU) as the only two wrestlers to win both 2018 Senior and U23 European Championships.
Dudova defeated Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 3-1 for the 59kg gold medal.
Dudova nabbed a takedown after being dinged on the activity clock, taking the 2-1 lead after the first three minutes. She would add a step out point in the second period, ultimately winning the gold medal with a 3-1 victory.
Romania’s Mihut won the 63kg U23 European title with a 5-3 win over Alexandru BICIU (MDA).
Mihut’s first-period passivity point and two gut wrenches proved to be the difference in fighting off Biciu for the gold medal.
Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) is expected to participate at the 2018 Yasar Dogu which will be held in Istanbul, Turkey on July 27-29. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)
5. Yasar Dogu Replaces South African Open as Ranking Series Event
The 46th Annual Yasar Dogu International has been named a Ranking Series event in men’s freestyle wrestling.
The tournament will be held July 27-29 in Istanbul and replaces the South African Open, which cited a lack of early sign-ups as motivation to cancel its event.
Freestyle Ranking Series Events
Ivan Yariguin (RUS) -- Completed
Tbilisi GP (GEO), July 3-5
Yasar Dogu, July 27-29
Medved (BLR), September 14-16
Weekly FIVE! In Social Media
1. Big Move Monday! #wrestlelikeagirl
2. Are you ready for the last day of the U23 Senior European Championships? ??? #UWW#Wrestling #u23euros
3. Big Move from Day 6 of the U23 Senior European C'ships #Istanbul2018 !
4. Thank you so much to all followers, we have reached 200,000.
#UWW #UnitedWorldWrestling #wrestling#followers
5. Day 3 in the warm up room here at the U23 Senior European Championships 2018 ?? #uww #wrestling#u23euros
