Bratislava Breakdown: A look at the World gold on display at the 2025 European Championships

A look at some of the superstars set to compete in Bratislava, Slovakia from April 7-13, 2025

The European Championships is undoubtedly the toughest continental championship among the United World Wrestling circuit. With the return of athletes from the Russian Federation (and to a lesser extent, Belarus), this year’s European Championships bursts with world champions.

The year after the Olympics often sees a lull in competition as Olympic medalists ride their success into a well-deserved year-off or they ponder what the next step in their wrestling career will be.

There’s 87 athletes in this year’s field who have won at least one world or Olympic championship during their international career. This includes the three age-group World Championships (U17, U20 and U23) as well as the Senior World Championships, which will be held in Zagreb, Croatia in September.

Top Medalists (By Worlds and Olympics Combined)
Abdulrashid SADULAEV (FS - 97kg)
7 World Medals (6 Gold, 1 Silver) and 2 Olympic Medals (2 Gold)
Artur ALEKSANYAN (GR - 97kg)
7 World Medals (4 Gold, 3 Silver) and 4 Olympic Medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Sergei SEMENOV (GR - 130kg)
1 World Medal (1 Gold) and 2 Olympic Medals (2 Bronze)
Heiki NABI (GR - 130kg): 5 World Medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze) and 1 Olympic Medal (1 Silver)

Top Age Group Performers (Most Age Group Medals)
Kerem KAMAL (GR - 63kg)
9 Age Group Medals (4 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GR - 77kg)
6 Age Group Medals (3 Gold, 3 Silver)
Irina RINGACI (WW - 65kg)
6 Age Group Medals (3 Gold, 0 Silver, 3 Bronze)