#GrecoMonday: Looking at which countries the U.S. will compete with to qualify 77 and 130 kg for the Olympic Games

Photo of Russia's Roman Vlasov courtesy of Tony Rotundo/Wrestlers are Warriors 

The U.S. had a strong showing at the Pan Am Olympic Qualifier this March, qualifying four of the six Greco-Roman weight classes for the Olympic Games. There will be one more opportunity to earn a berth to the Olympics, which will come at the Last Chance qualifier scheduled to be held in late April in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Countries that have already earned an Olympic berth are not allowed to enter wrestlers into the weight class that they have qualified.
Wrestlers that placed top-five at the 2019 World Championships have already qualified their countries for the Olympic Games. Additionally, placing top-two in the Continental qualifiers also qualifies a country for the Games. Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Pan-Am Qualifiers were the only Continental qualifier that has taken place so far.
Let’s take a look at which countries and wrestlers the U.S. will have to go through to make it to the Olympic Games at 77 kg and 130 kg.
77 kg

Countries qualified from the 2019 World Championships
Hungary (Tomas Loerincz – Gold)
Sweden (Alex Michel Bjurberg Kessidis – Silver)
Iran (Mohammadali Abdolhamid Gerai – Bronze)
Uzbekistan (Jalgasbay Berdimuratov – Bronze)
Armenia (Karapet Chalyan – Fifth)
Kazakhstan (Askhat Dilmukhamedov – Fifth)
Countries qualified from the Pan Am Olympic Qualifier
Cuba (Yosvanys Pena Flores- Gold)
Mexico (Jose Andres Vargas Rueda – Silver)
Notably missing from the list of qualified countries is Greco powerhouse Russia. Two-time Olympic champion and two-time World champion Roman Vlasov finished eighth at the 2019 World Championships, failing to qualify the Russians. Vlasov is only 29, but if the Russians feel that he is past his prime, they could opt to send 2018 World champion Aleksandr Chekhirkin. It seems probable that Russia could qualify this weight class at the European Olympic Qualifier, but if they don’t, they will have a fierce competitor at the Last Chance qualifier.
South Korea is another country to watch out for as they have the talented Hyeon-Woo Kim at this weight class. Kim is a 2012 Olympic Champion at 66 kg and a 2013 World Champion at 74 kg. Additionally, Kim is a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist at 75 kg and a two-time World bronze medalist, placing at 66 kg in 2011 and 77 kg at the 2018 World Championships. Kim went 0-1 at the 2019 World Championships but should not be counted out as a potential medal contender.
Serbia’s Viktor Nemes is a 2017 World champion that placed 10th at the 2019 World Championships. Additionally, Nemes is a 2018 World bronze medalist.
Other countries with strong contenders:
Azerbaijan (Elvin Mursaliev – Two-time World bronze medalist (2014, 2017), 16th at 2019 World Championships)
Turkey (Faith Cengiz – 2017 World bronze medalist, 2017 U23 World champion, 20th at 2019 World Championships)
Moldova (Daniel Cataraga – 2016 World silver medalist, two-time U23 World champion (2017, 2018), 13th at 2019 World Championships)
130 kg

Countries qualified from the 2019 World Championships
Turkey (Riza Kayaalp- Gold)
Cuba (Oscar Pino Hinds – Silver)
Estonia (Heiki Nabi – Bronze)
Georgia (Iakobi Kajaia – Bronze)
Iran (Amir Mohammadali Ghasemimonjezi – Fifth)
Germany (Eduard Popp – Fifth)


Countries qualified from the Pan Am Olympic Qualifier
Chile (Yasmani Acosta Fernandez – Gold)
Brazil (Eduard Soghomonyan – Silver)
130 kg is another weight class Russia failed to qualify for the Olympic Games. Their representative 2018 World champion Sergey Semenov had a disappointing 17th place finish in 2019. Semenov is a two-time Junior World champion (2013, 2014) and a 2017 U23 World champion. If Semenov qualifies the weight class at either the European or Last Chance qualifier, he will most likely be in the hunt to bring home an Olympic medal next summer.
South Korea’s Min-Seok, a 2018 Senior World bronze medalist and a 2013 Junior World bronze medalist is another wrestler to watch for. Min-Seok finished 22nd at the 2019 World Championships.
Murat Ramonov of Kyrgyzstan finished seventh at the 2019 World Championships. He is a 2016 Olympian and has competed at five Senior World Championships, finishing seventh in 2015 as well.
Romania’s Alin Alexuc-Ciurariu is a seasoned veteran aiming to make his third Olympic Games. Alexuc-Ciurariu won the 2020 European Championships and has competed at seven World Championships. He finished 14th in 2019, and his best finish came in 2014, when he placed fifth. Additionally, he is a 2010 Junior World silver medalist.

While some of these wrestlers will likely qualify for the Olympics via their Continental qualifier, whoever earns the right to represent the U.S. will undoubtedly still face steep competition to earn an Olympic berth. However, given the depth the U.S. has at both weight classes, our representative will have the tools and the grit to get the job done.