In a historic moment for Greek wrestling, Georgios Kougioumtsidis won the gold medal in the 79kg category at the World Championships held in Zagreb, Croatia. This victory marks the first time a Greek man has ever claimed a world title in wrestling, a feat that Kougioumtsidis achieved with a narrow 3-2 victory over American wrestler Levi Haines.
“I’m very proud,” Kougioumtsidis expressed after his win. “I’m the first one who won a gold medal at the World Championships. It’s my dream come true. I failed at the Olympics last year. I think this year is a good achievement. I achieved my goal.”
Despite his previous disappointments, including a first-round exit at the Paris Olympics and a third-place finish at the Budapest Ranking Series this year, the 23-year-old wrestler showcased remarkable determination throughout the competition. He navigated through multiple rounds to reach the final, where he employed a strategic approach to secure his victory. After building an early 2-0 lead through a stepout following a single-leg attack, Kougioumtsidis maintained control despite conceding a last-second takedown.
“I know he’s a very offensive wrestler,” he remarked about Haines. “My condition is also good. I was a bit tired from yesterday because of four matches. But I won, that’s what matters most.”
Kougioumtsidis’ triumph places him alongside the only other Greek wrestling champion, Sofia Poumpouridou, who won women’s gold in 2002. Historically, Greek men had reached world finals only three times prior to Kougioumtsidis’ victory.
In the 57kg category, Chongsong Han of North Korea returned to the top of the podium, securing his country’s first world gold since 2019. Han’s victory was defined by a dramatic comeback against Bekzat Almaz Uulu of Kyrgyzstan, as he rallied from a significant deficit to win 12-9.
The 74kg final was less conventional, with Japan’s Kota Takahashi awarded the gold after his opponent, Chermen Valiev of Albania, suffered a knee injury during the match. Takahashi was leading 3-2 when Valiev was forced to withdraw, expressing mixed emotions about winning under such circumstances.
Trent Hidlay of the United States also made headlines by winning gold at 92kg. In an extraordinary comeback, he overcame an eight-point deficit against Amanula Gadzhimagomedov, finishing with a score of 13-10. “It wasn’t my best wrestling match,” Hidlay admitted, reflecting on his determination to turn the match around.
Other notable results included Arsen Harutyunyan of Armenia denying Mexico its first-ever world medal while competing against Roman Bravo Young, securing a 7-4 victory. The competition continued to showcase a diverse range of talent across multiple weight classes, highlighting the intensity and spirit of the World Championships.
Overall, the day was marked by groundbreaking achievements, exhilarating comebacks, and the realization of dreams for athletes representing their countries on an international stage.
