Host Greece Dominates Beach Wrestling World Championship

KATERINI, Greece – Host Greece swept the 2014 World Beach Wrestling Championship winning team trophies in cadet, junior and senior men and women in Katerini.

FILA President Nenad Lalovic joined hundreds of fans in Paralia to watch the wrestlers compete on the picturesque beach at the foot of Mount Olympus.

“We are always proud of our competitors,” said Lalovic. “I hope to see our beach wrestling continue to grow around the world.”

Romania took two gold medals in the men’s events, as Tomi HINOVEANU (ROM) won the 70kg ahead of home favorite Apostolos TASKOUDIS (GRE) and Russian Vasili STRUCKOV (RUS). Vasile VLAD CARAS (ROM) earned gold at 90kg beating Greek Theofilos AMPATZIS Apatzis in the final. Anthony OKOLI (USA) was third.

Russia also landed two gold medals in the men’s final with Leonid SPIRIDONOV (RUS) stopping Nagy MHALY (HUN) at 80 kg. Sweden’s Karl Oskar Fredriksson took bronze. Then Yury SARTOSTIN (RUS) ruled the 90kg category, with Greeks Dimitris PAPADAPOPOULOS and Ilias BOUKIS finishing silver and bronze respectively.

Greece was first with 26, followed in second by Russia with 23 and Romania in third with 16.

Greece also dominated the women’s events, securing two gold medals and leaving the third to Estonia.

Greek Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) wrestled took gold at 60kg category, with Kazakh Miruyert DYNBAYEVA (KAZ) coming in second and Norwegian Rikke JUEL BUUGE (NOR) in third. It was an-all Greek podium at the 70kg with Athina GIANNOUSA taking gold, Eirini GAVRANIDOU silver and Virginia TSAKNAKI with bronze.

Epp MAE (EST) took gold at 70kg, while Norwegian Iselin MOEN SOLHEIM took bronze and Greek Katerina PITSIAVA captured bronze. In the points table Greece gathered 22, ahead of Norway with 13 and Estonia with eight.