Leydecker runs it back, becomes fourth U.S. woman to win two U20 World titles

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – A second-period pin in the women’s freestyle 55 kg championship match on Thursday night cemented Everest Leydecker as a two-time U20 World champion for Team USA.

It was a gradual start for Leydecker against 2024 U17 World silver medalist Nana Kozuka of Japan. She gave up the early takedown but stayed within striking distance at 2-1 heading into the period break. Kozuka made a critical error shooting off the whistle to begin the second period. Leydecker countered Kozuka to her back, held her for nearly two minutes, then pressed down the fall.

 To reach the finals, Leydecker earned wins over 2026 U20 Asian silver medalist Meilin Zhou of China, 2021 U17 World silver medalist Valeryia Mikitsich of Belarus, and 2025 U23 World silver medalist Hansika Lamba of India—hardly a cakewalk.

Her gold medal is the 20^th women’s freestyle gold in U.S. history at the event, spread across 15 individuals. She is just the fourth American woman to win at least two U20 World titles, joining two-time Olympian Ali Bernard (2003, 2005), two-time Senior World Team member Victoria Anthony (2009, 2010) and Olympic champion Amit Elor (2021, 2022, 2023) on the short list. Elor is the only American to win U20 Worlds three times, a feat Leydecker could match next year.

The 18-year-old is stacking quite the resume. Since winning U20 Worlds last summer in Samokov, Bulgaria, Leydecker has won Senior-level gold medals at the Bill Farrell Memorial International, Zagreb Open Ranking Series and Pan American Championships. Not to mention topping the U.S. Open and Final X domestically.

The 2026 run isn’t over for Leydecker. She will represent Team USA at the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, this October. Not to mention, she will step on campus at the University of Iowa this fall for her freshman college campaign.

The U.S. added a fifth-place finish from 2023 U17 World champion Piper Fowler at 76 kg. Fowler was edged by three-time age-group World medalist Elmira Yasin of Türkiye in the bronze medal match, 6-5. The 2026 NAIA champion and new Iowa State Cyclone finished her time in Slovakia with a 2-2 record.

Women’s freestyle group two athletes on the outside looking in on medal matches, Bella Williams and Riley Hanrahan, earned top-10 finishes and important points for the team standings. Williams was seventh place at 62 kg, while Hanrahan was 10^th place at 65 kg.

At the conclusion of women’s freestyle group two, Team USA sits in fifth place overall with 78 points. Japan holds a solid lead with 117 points, 27 more than current second-place team China. Russia is in third place with 89 points, one less than China.

Read More: U20 World Championships Day Five Match Notes

The action continues from A4 Studio at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday with the women’s freestyle group three (57-59-68 kg) and men’s freestyle group one (61-86 kg) repechage, plus the men’s freestyle group two (57-65-79-92 kg) qualification rounds. Bratislava, Slovakia, is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

Fans can watch the U20 World Championships live or on-demand at FloWrestling.org. Brackets and live results are available through UWW Arena.

USA Wrestling will provide continued updates from the U20 World Championships on TheMat.com and its social media platforms.