Sadulaev wins first European Championship since 2020 in freestyle wrestling

Abdulrashid Sadulaev claimed the European Freestyle Wrestling Championship title for the first time since 2020, adding another major gold medal to one of the most decorated careers in the sport's history.

The two-time Olympic champion has long been considered among the greatest freestyle wrestlers of his generation, and the European title represents a significant return to the top of the continental podium. Sadulaev's path back to this level of competition has not been straightforward. Since 2022, he has been absent from numerous international events due to visa complications and sanctions stemming from the broader restrictions placed on Russian athletes, a period that observers have noted may have cost him the opportunity to stand alone as the all-time leader in combined titles across Olympic, World, and European competition.

Sadulaev was not the only Russian wrestler to claim gold at the event. Ahmed Usmanov and David Baev also won European Championship titles at the same competition, underlining the continued strength of Russian freestyle wrestling at the continental level despite the disruptions of recent years.

Why it matters

• Sadulaev's European gold is his first at this level in six years, marking a meaningful return to form on the international stage.
• His extended absence from competition due to sanctions has reshaped the historical title-count conversation among freestyle wrestling's all-time greats.
• The trio of Russian gold medals signals that the country's freestyle wrestling program remains highly competitive across multiple weight classes.