Beach Blog: The magic of a bronze medal, as Eli reaches another podium

Sunday, June 1, 2025…  We brought five athletes and put three in the semis.  This defines a successful outcome, regardless of style or venue.  The fact that it’s the second leg of the 2025 Beach Wrestling World Series makes it that much more credible.

We tasted some bitter pills, losing all three semifinals.  In an event stacked with multiple-time World Champions, that’s disappointing but not earth-shaking.  We got beat, fair and square, by perennial powers Iran, Georgia and Ukraine.

Kyle and Rod finished fourth, while Eli cashed in for Bronze.  During our team meeting, I was able to share one of those little known ‘scientific’ secrets of the alloy we call Bronze.  No surprise, our Beach athletes are all too young to have realized Bronze’s magic.

I explained the powers metals and medals hold over all of us through the night.  “If you set your Gold medal on the nightstand, you sleep quickly deeply and late into the next morning.  A Silver medal next to the bed will keep you awake with its tormenting power, then cause you to oversleep from worry and fatigue.”

“The mere positive presence of a Bronze medal on the nightstand allows its winner to sleep well.   While its winner is asleep, the bronze works its true magic.  Bronze medal winners wake up early, refreshed and ready to go back to work.”  Take my word… Eli Bommarito will be at it early tomorrow!

OK… I need to share some ideas that will turn into information.  The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is finishing up their qualifying quotas, procedures and timetable for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakkar, Senegal.  They will announce those soon.

Most likely, the details will be shared with National Governing Bodies (NGBs) first.  Our formal announcement will likely be delivered by USA Wrestling, perhaps as early as the next few weeks.

That said, here’s my disclaimer: “Anything I say here can be considered, at best, enlightened speculation.”   There’s a lot of ‘Wink-Wink’ sharing happening within the Beach Wrestling Community, as Beach is the only wrestling style chosen for the Youth Olympic Games.

The only part carved in stone is this: “Competitors in the Games will be legitimate members of the U17 age group throughout the 2026 calendar year.  That means individual athletes attempting to qualify in 2025 must be 15 or16 all year. 

It may be that a current U17 athlete can qualify a blank position, not available to themselves.  A system like this will require NGBs to develop and implement satisfactory internal selection procedures to name athletes who fill pre-qualified roster quotas.

We know that the IOC qualifying procedures will somewhat accommodate the desires of all sports, but not completely satisfy the needs of anyone.  That means wrestling will not get exactly what we want.

We believe that some nations will qualify some named roster spots before the end of the 2025 UWW Beach season.  We believe the IOC will reserve other roster positions to ensure equity for under-represented developing federations.

Here’s the deal.  UWW leadership, here in Porec, made it abundantly clear to all delegations that, “It is very strongly advised that we have a strong showing at the 2025 age group World Championship.”

Here’s another note:  That Championship will be hosted in Katerini, Greece in late September.  The Championship was originally scheduled for September 25 – 26.

We have heard that the Greek Federation has requested to move the Championship one week earlier, September 18 – 19.  That request is being considered.  A decision from UWW will be announced before mid-June.

That’s a lot to think about and, remember, nothing’s official until you hear it from USA Wrestling!  I only offer the hints in an effort to help families plan international travel appropriately.  Don’t panic.  Just stay ready!

Last note:  I know Coach Timmy (Box) is planning to host an Intensive Training Camp (Beach specific) in San Diego this summer.  If that’s something you’ve been anxious for, contact Coach Box directly.

That’s it from Porec.  I’m out until early September.  See you in Casa Blaca, where I can honestly say… “Play it again, Sam.”

CIAO

Saturday, May 31, 2025…  Tomorrow will be June.  USAW Wrestling members, coast to coast, enter what is arguably the ‘hottest’ two months of wrestling competition known to mankind.

Half a world away, a seven-member U.S. delegation (plus one old guy and Eva) entered their own version of ‘Hot’ this morning.   The second leg of the 2025 World Series of Beach Wrestling heard its first whistle at 10:00 am, Central European time.

You’ve already read Gary’s summary and highlights for the day, so you know all five Americans wrestled well.  Numbers are down for this, the second leg of the ’25 series, but quality is up.  The studs are all here!

If you’ve been with me over the years, you know I’m a huge fan of the so-called intangibles.  We all know who gets their hand raised and we all know the pain their opponent feels while it’s happening.  Today, I want to touch on s few of wrestling’s key vocabulary terms: Tenacity; resilience; goal-setting; love.

Roderick Love had a break-out performance today… and did so on very little sleep.  Unlike the vast majority of their opponents, all of these American heroes travel on their own dime.  This often results in last minute planning and creative itineraries.

Rod wasn’t even sure he could get here.  He was able to scrounge a last-minute flight, arriving in Zagreb yesterday afternoon.  As event transportation had already completed, Rod ended up on the late bus to Pula… a five-hour ride.  Coach Timmy (Box) called in some favors with organizers and got them to pick Rod up for the last hour of his trip.  He arrived in Porec at 1:45 a.m. this morning.  Weigh-ins were at 8:00 a.m.

Then he commenced wrestling, absolutely lights out!  I have to mention… Rod’s winning lift, ending his second bout, is quite likely to be in the running for Best Technique of The Event.  The winner of this cash prize is chosen Sunday afternoon via views and likes on Instagram. 

It’s hard for an American to cash in, when we compete in Europe, due to our time difference.  Please… stay up a few minutes late Sunday.  Track down beachwrestling.org and follow it to the Porec voting.  Sometime, right around midnight Mountain Time, you’ll be able to cast your vote for Rod’s lift and finish, as well as for his resilience.  Thanks!

While you’re at it, applaud young Sadie Evans for her goal-setting.  Sadie is 18 and just graduating high school.  Her graduation trip brings her to Croatia, where she can scratch a little higher on her career tree.  It takes gumption for any successful age group athlete to test themselves against experienced adults.  With the 2026 Youth Olympic Games on the horizon, I know a bunch of American 16-year-olds who can gain from Sadie’s example.  Thanks!

Veteran Justin Benjamin taught us about tenacity today.  After a tough first-round loss in an absolutely loaded 70kg bracket, Justin picked himself up, quite literally dusted himself off, and got back in the fight. 

Justin’s last minute, creative finish to a double notched him a three-point move.  This is a key factor in deciding who advances to tomorrow’s semifinals.  Our developing athletes, on the mat and in the sand, can take note of Justin’s awareness of situation and tenacity in helping himself advance.  Thanks!

And then there’s love.  All wrestlers display love well and all wrestling fans love to see it.  As brothers and sisters in UWW’s most rapidly developing style, Beach Wrestlers are quick and solid in showing their love and mutual respect.

I mentioned that the studs are all here in Porec.  That includes a full male delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran.  It’s been a few years since we’ve seen Iranians in the World Series.

In today’s fractious world, not all Americans or Iranians are thrilled to see each other.  Wrestling bridges gaps in ways other walks of life can’t even fathom.

Getting together… Americans and Iranians… for some pre-competition hugs and photos, was a needed reminder of the honesty and compassion wrestling provides for humanity.  Thanks!

CIAO

Friday, May 30, 2025…  On to the beauty of the Adriatic Coast for 2025’s second installment of United World Wrestling’s Beach World Series!  The town of Porec, located in Croatia’s northwestern province of Istria, is our host.

You’ve already seen Gary’s article.  As usual, he’s ‘On It’.  Gary has introduced you to America’s key contributors on the field of play.  He’s given you historical context and a glimpse of what’s at stake.

Competing in Eastern Europe offers a deeper roster of opponents for our American heroes.  Our Pan-American foes are talented and driven.  Many European beach wrestlers are seasoned veterans.  Beach wrestling strongholds such as Azerbaijan, France, Georgia, Greece and Romania will all field strong delegations.

My role is to add some spice… tempt your palate!  My constant goal is to offer some insider views to the history, technique, scoring, and the personalities that paint this fastest-growing developing style on UWW’s menu.

To preface this weekend’s Croatian event, let me implore you… pause reading this and simply google some images of Beach Wrestling.  As a loyalist to the Olympic Styles and American Folkstyle, you will instantly appreciate the technical value.

If you’re newer to wrestling, or just stumbled onto this, you’ll find yourself just as attracted to what you see.  It’s hard to click past two physically attractive young athletes doing honest combat in a arena on one of the world’s beautiful beaches.  Gotcha!

Beach Wrestling loves cameras.  Cameras love Beach Wrestling.  As you follow Gary and me through our coverage in Porec, I’d like to give some credit where it’s due.  Let me introduce you to four of America’s most dedicated wrestling photo-journalists.

Over the last decade, Beach Wrestling has come close to dominating wrestling’s overall photo presence online.  United World Wrestling and its Beach Wrestling World Series have dedicated significant resources to upgrading wrestling’s visibility.

Wrestling’s a hard sport to shoot, indoor or outdoor.  So much anticipation and plain old wrestling savvy go into getting that great shot.

There are a pretty good number of serious competitors, globally, in capturing stills of wrestling action.  My goal is not to slight anyone, but to highlight these four Americans who sacrifice much to capture those ‘Wow’ moments and publish them.

Tony Rotondo was with Team USA throughout the Pan-Ams last week.  Tony has recognized the photo-journalistic appeal of beach action for a while, now.  Tony stayed the extra three days to shoot beach action.  I dare say… looking at some of his shots… the stay was worth it!

California’s John Sachs is another photographer the beach has captured.  Over the last couple of years, Beach events in the Golden State have grown tremendously, both in number and quality.  I give lots of credit to John for that.  California’s huge population of athletes, coaches and referees make it a fertile feeding ground for our sport’s new outdoor growth.

Robbert Wijtman, another Californian, bought into Beach Wrestling early and it has served him well.  I know Robbert has shot beach action on at least three continents.  Like the others, he has a good eye and a good gut and captures great .

Larry Slater of Arizona is the fourth on my Mount Rushmore of American wrestling photo-journalists.  Like the other three, Larry’s been shooting wrestling for decades.  As he gains more opportunity on the beach, I think we can all look forward to some spectacular shots from Larry’s unique perspective.

Everyone loves a good wrestling pic.  They drive us to read more.  They allow us to revisit our ‘Wow’ moments.  They recruit.  They appreciate.  They applaud.

Along with others, Larry and Robbert and John and Tony are a vital component of every wrestling story.  We all love the photo, but rarely notice the person who captured it.  I thought it appropriate to say ‘Thanks’ from all of us, to these four and to all the many others who love wrestling through a lens.  THANKS!

CIAO