Tristan Kelly (red), pictured in action at the 2021 Captains Cup, emerged with the gold medal at the CISM World Military Championships.
PFC Kelly of the U.S. Army earns gold at CISM World Military Championships
by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
BAKU, Azerbaijan – The U.S. added a second gold medal in as many days at the 2023 CISM World Military Championships. Private First Class Tristan Kelly of the U.S. Army WCAP was named champion in the women’s freestyle 76 kg division.
Only two women were entered in the 76 kg bracket, Kelly and Enrica Rinaldi of Italy, who won a bronze medal at the 2021 U23 World Championships and 2022 Senior European Championships, and has represented Italy at the Senior World Championships the past two years. Kelly topped Rinaldi by decision, 8-3, to claim the World Military title.
The gold medal win in Baku stands atop Kelly’s international achievements. She is one of the emerging, young heavyweight standouts for the U.S. in the women’s division with a U20 World bronze medal from 2022 to her credit. Kelly also owns a pair of international medals on the Senior level in 2023—silver at the Klippan Lady Open and bronze at the Bill Farrell Memorial International.
Thus far, the U.S. is two-for-two on gold medalists in Baku as Kelly joined men’s freestyle athlete SSG Morgan McIntosh, also of the U.S. Army WCAP, with the distinction.
The CISM World Military Championships conclude tomorrow with Greco-Roman action. Four American solider athletes, Dalton Roberts, Alejandro Sancho, Britton Holmes and John Stefanowicz, will take the mats. A full report of the U.S. results will be provided at the conclusion of the competition.
2023 CISM World Military Championships
At Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 1
Women’s freestyle results
Team Ranking
1. Mongolia, 137
2. Azerbaijan, 115
3. Romania, 85
4. Kazakhstan, 73
5. Italy, 62
6. Nigeria, 57
7. Belarus, 27
T-8. United States, 25
T-8. Brazil, 25
50 kg
Gold – Munkhnar Byambasuren (Mongolia)
Silver – Elnura Mammadova (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Beatrice Ferent (Romania)
Bronze – Laura Ganikyzy (Kazakhstan)
53 kg
Gold – Alina Grigore (Romania)
Silver – Oyundari Ganbat (Mongolia)
Bronze – Gultakin Shirinova (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Emanuela Liuzzi (Italy)
55 kg
Gold – Andreea Ana (Romania)
Silver – Baynmunkh Otgontuya (Mongolia)
Bronze – Nargiz Samadova (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Maryia Alhulida (Belarus)
57 kg
Gold – Jala Aliyeva (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Ainur Ashimova (Kazakhstan)
59 kg
Gold – Ruzanna Mammadova (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Kateryna Zhydachevska (Romania)
Bronze – Yulia Pisarenko (Belarus)
Bronze – Saruul Erdenebilea (Mongolia)
62 kg
Gold – Tserenchimed Sukhee (Mongolia)
Silver – Irina Kuznetsova (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Soltanava Burgul (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Precious Tiebiri (Nigeria)
65 kg
Gold – Narkhajid Nyamsuren (Mongolia)
68 kg
Gold – Hannah Reuben (Nigeria)
Silver – Laura Godino (Italy)
Bronze – Gabriela Pedro da Rocha (Brazil)
Bronze – Albina Kairgeldinova (Kazakhstan)
72 kg
Gold – Tsogzolmaa Dorjsuren (Mongolia)
Silver – Esther Ojolaibe (Nigeria)
76 kg
Gold – Tristan Kelly (United States)
Silver – Enrica Rinaldi (Italy)
U.S. women’s freestyle results
76 kg – Tristan Kelly (Erie, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), Gold
WIN Enrica Rinaldi (Italy), 8-3