Valencia Wins World Title; Forrest Finishes Fifth

ZAGREB, Croatia – Zahid Valencia was dominant in winning the gold medal at 86 kg at the Senior World Championships, shutting out all five of his opponents.

His gold is the first U.S. medal of the 2025 World Championships. He was the only member of men’s freestyle group one to find a place on the medal stand.

Haines, Hidlay Reach World Championships Semis

ZAGREB, Croatia – The U.S. men’s freestyle team put forth another remarkable session at the 2025 World Championships with all four athletes making the quarterfinal round, two of which—Levi Haines and Trent Hidlay—punched through to the Sunday evening semis.

U.S. to Host 2026 U23 World Championships and Pan American Championships

United World Wrestling announced that Las Vegas will host the 2026 U23 World Championships at the Thomas & Mack Center on October 12-18, 2026, and that the 2026 Senior Pan American Championships will be held in Coralville, Iowa at the Xtream Arena on May 6-9, 2026.

Valencia Beats Two-Time World Champ to Reach Finals

ZAGREB, Croatia – Zahid Valencia. He unleashed his offensive arsenal to down two-time World champion Kamran Ghasempour of Iran in the 86 kg semifinals to become the first American finalist of the 2025 World Championships.

Jax Forrest’s day one run at 61 kg ended in the semis with a tough outing against 2020 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Zavur Uguev of UWW.

Forrest, Valencia Advance to World Championship Men's Freestyle Semifinals

The 2025 Senior World Championships kicked off with a strong effort from the U.S. men’s freestyle team. 2023 World bronze medalist Zahid Valencia and reigning Pan American champion Jax Forrest moved into the semifinals, and PJ Duke remains in the hunt for a wrestle-back.

Men’s Freestyle Draw Set to Open 2025 Senior World Championships in Croatia

ZAGREB, Croatia – The men’s freestyle draw has been finalized, and complete brackets have been released, for the 2025 Senior World Championships being held over the next week in Croatia’s capital city.

2025 U.S. World Team Will Recognize Ben Askren On Senior World Championships Singlets

2008 U.S. men’s freestyle Olympian and combat sport legend Ben Askren has been staging an inspiring recovery after a near-death health challenge, which led to a double lung transplant. 

The U.S. Senior World Wrestling Team, which is competing in the 2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, September 13-21, will recognize Askren’s courageous comeback by wearing his initials BMA on their official U.S. World Team RUDIS singlets while competing in the World Championships. His full name is Benjamin Michael Askren. 

Olympic Medalists Maroulis, Blades, World Champ Winchester Lead 2025 World Championships U.S. Women’s Freestyle Team

2016 Olympic champion, three-time Olympic medalist and three-time Senior World champion Helen Maroulis is the most experienced member of the 2025 U.S. Senior World Team in women’s freestyle at the 2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. 

2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades dropped to 68 kg and will compete on her first Senior World Team. 2019 World champion, 2023 World silver medalist and 2020 Olympian Jacarra Winchester returns to the World Championships at 59 kg. Blades is seeded No. 4, while Winchester is unseeded.