UWW Wrestling
The numbers always excites the sports fans and same is the case with the wrestling fans. The global body for the sport of wrestling, United World Wrestling (UWW) has compiled list of the biggest winners and the most dominating nations of the world this decade. In looking at the decade from 2010 to 2019, Russia in both freestyle and Greco-Roman and Japan’s women wrestlers soared high above all others at the world championships and Olympic events. Take a look at the list –
Men’s Freestyle Competitions 2010-2019
World Wrestling Championships – In freestyle during the period, Russia captured a total of 25 gold medals at the worlds, more than double the 12 of the nearest competitor, the United States. By comparison, Georgia was next highest with six golds, while Iran and Azerbaijan had five each. The Russians also had the most silvers (9) and bronzes (18) for an overall total of 52. Iran was next highest with 29 (6 gold-9 silver-14 bronze), followed by the United States with 26 (12-3-11), Georgia with 21 (6-3-12) and Azerbaijan with 20 (5-7-8).
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As medal tallies and team standings go hand-in-hand, it is no surprise that Russia took home six of the eight team titles up for grabs. Only runner-up finishes to Iran in 2013 and the United States in 2017–the latter by a one-point difference–denied Russia a perfect record.
Olympic Games (2012-2016) – The Olympics, with the reduced number of weight classes, narrowed the gap, but Russia still was either at or among the top of the heap, depending on how one crunches the numbers. Russia compiled three golds and seven medals overall at London 2012 and Rio 2016; Azerbaijan had more medals overall with eight, but one less gold with two. The United States tied Russia with three golds, to which it added two bronzes. Both Iran and Georgia had one gold and six medals overall.
Greco-Roman Competitions 2010-2019
In Greco, Russia was only slightly less dominant, heading the pack that saw the spoils more widespread.
World Wrestling Championships – Over the decade, Russia claimed 14 world golds and 37 medals overall (9 silvers, 14 bronzes), well ahead of the closest competitor, Turkey, which accumulated eight golds and 26 medals in total. Roman VLASOV (RUS) won two world and two Olympic golds at 74-75kg during the span, while Musa EVLOEV (RUS) chipped in with two golds at 97kg. Russia took the team title every year except 2014, when it was edged by Iran, which piled up six golds and 19 medals overall in the decade. Armenia also put on a strong showing with 16 overall medals (5-4-7), while Azerbaijan and Hungary had identical results in claiming 17 medals each (4-4-9).
Olympic Games (2012-2016) In the two Olympics, Russia captured four golds and eight medals overall, which Cuba and Iran had three golds apiece. For what it’s worth, Russia won the World Cup twice, the same number as Azerbaijan, while Iran took home the trophy four times, including three in a row from 2010 to 2012.
Women Wrestling Competitions 2010-2019
When it comes to women’s wrestling, no one come close to what Japan women wrestlers have achieved in this decade. Be it Olympics or the world stage, Japanese women reign supreme everywhere.
World Wrestling Championships – From 2010 to 2019, Japan captured a whopping 26 gold medals at the World Championships, over 2 1/2 times that of its nearest rival, the United States, which had 10. It also represents more than one-third of the golds available (74). Japan also pocketed nine silvers (the most) and 12 bronzes for a total haul of 48 medals. The U.S. had the next biggest with 28 (10-6-12), while China and Ukraine each earned six golds, and Mongolia, Canada and Russia had four apiece. It was also a Bronze Age for the Chinese, who had 18 third-place finishes.
Olympic Games (2012-2016) At the Olympics, the Japanese were in another stratosphere. Of the 10 gold medals awarded (four in London, six in Rio), seven were taken back to the Land of the Rising Sun, including two by Icho. Japan also had one silver medalist–the result of Yoshida’s stunning loss to Helen MAROULIS (USA) at 53kg in Rio.
