By Richard Immel
USA Wrestling

The 2026 Senior World Championships were held from October 24 through November 1 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Here are notable records and achievements from the U.S. women’s freestyle team that competed.

U.S. First to Win Men’s and Women’s Freestyle Team Titles in the Same Year 

The U.S. became the first country ever to win team titles at the World Championships in both men’s and women’s freestyle in the same year. The women’s freestyle team won its second team title and its first in the sport’s Olympic era (2004-current). It was the sixth team title for men’s freestyle and the fourth in the past 10 years. The U.S. now has nine World Championships team titles across the three Olympic disciplines. The Greco-Roman team won in 2007.

U.S. Women Dethrone Japan for Second Team Title, First in Olympic Era 

The U.S. finished with two champions, a silver medalist, three bronze medalists, and top-ten finishes in all but one weight class, securing the nation’s second women’s freestyle team title. The team compiled an overall record of 27-10, a 72.9% win percentage. This marks the second team title in U.S. women’s wrestling history and the first in its Olympic era (2004-present). The previous title came in 1999, with gold medalists Tricia Saunders and Sandra Bacher, plus silver medalist Kristie Davis, leading the way. This is the first team title for head coach Terry Steiner, who has been at the helm of the U.S. women’s program since 2002. The U.S. defeated perennial power Japan by two team points, 137 to 135. This is just the fifth year since 1989 that Japan has not won the women’s freestyle team title. The only countries outside of Japan and the U.S. to win women’s freestyle team titles are Russia (1995, 1998) and China (2001).

Leydecker Becomes Second-Youngest U.S. World Champion 

On Oct. 30, 2026, Everest Leydecker, who was the Arizona winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award in 2026, became the second-youngest American to win the World Championships across all Olympic disciplines, at 19 years and one month. Leydecker not only clinched individual gold with a 4-1 win over Ukraine’s Nataliia Klivchutska in the 55 kg gold medal match but also secured the team title. Additionally, Leydecker’s gold was her third World medal of the year across all age divisions. She won the U20 World Championships and was bronze at the U23 World Championships before Astana. The current record for the youngest U.S. World champion was set by Amit Elor in 2022 at 18 years and eight months. Before Elor, the record was held by Kyle Snyder, who won the World Championships on Sept. 11, 2015, at 19 years and nine months. That mark still stands in men’s freestyle.

Maroulis Ties U.S. Record with Ninth World Medal 

On Oct. 28, 2026, Helen Maroulis won a bronze medal at 50 kg in women’s freestyle, claiming her ninth World medal. Maroulis is now tied for the U.S. record of nine World Championships medals. Prior to this year, four Americans had reached that mark—Kristie Davis and Adeline Gray in women’s freestyle, and Bruce Baumgartner and Jordan Burroughs in men’s freestyle. Maroulis also holds three Olympic medals, bringing her combined count of Senior-level World and Olympic medals to 12, one behind Bruce Baumgartner’s record of 13 World and Olympic medals.

Nwachukwu Breaks Through for Gold, Becomes First WCAP Champion Since 2005 

On Oct. 29, 2026, U.S. Army Specialist Adaugo Nwachukwu won the 62 kg gold medal in women’s freestyle, beating two-time World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Nonoka Ozaki of Japan 12-11 in the final seconds. Nwachukwu is the first member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program to win a World title since Iris Smith claimed the 72 kg gold medal in Budapest, Hungary, in 2005. Born in Nigeria, Nwachukwu relocated to California in her youth. She also won a silver medal at the U23 World Championships this October.

Six Medals Rank Second in U.S. Women’s Freestyle History 

The U.S. won six medals in women’s freestyle at the World Championships, the second most all-time. Gold medalists were Everest Leydecker at 55 kg and Adaugo Nwachukwu at 62 kg. Abigail Nette earned silver at 59 kg. Bronze medalists were Helen Maroulis at 57 kg, Kennedy Blades at 68 kg, and Dymond Guilford at 76 kg. Four women’s freestyle teams won seven World medals (2003, 2021, 2022, 2023), the current record.

Two Champions Tie for Second in U.S. Women’s Freestyle History 

2026 marks the seventh time the U.S. has had multiple women’s freestyle gold medalists at the World Championships. Everest Leydecker at 55 kg and Adaugo Nwachukwu at 62 kg won gold this year. Two teams have had three gold medalists (2019, 2022), which is the U.S. record. Five teams have reached the two-champion mark (1999, 2012, 2015, 2021, 2026).

10th Occurrence of Three Women’s Freestyle Finalists

2026 marks the 10th time the U.S. has had at least three finalists in women’s freestyle at the World Championships. This year’s finalists were Everest Leydecker at 55 kg, Abigail Nette at 59 kg, and Adaugo Nwachukwu at 62 kg. The current record for most World finalists in women’s freestyle is five, set in 2003 and 2022. The 2021 team had four finalists. Seven other teams reached the three-finalist mark (1996, 1997, 1999, 2012, 2019, 2023, 2026).