The 2024 Senior World Championships are set for October 28-31 at the Sports Hall “Feti Borova” in Tirana, Albania. There will be four weight classes in each of the three World Championships disciplines, the weight classes which were not contested at the 2024 Olympic Games Paris. Team USA in women’s freestyle will feature 2019 World champion and 2020 Olympian Jacarra Winchester (59 kg), 2023 World silver medalist Macey Kilty (65 kg), 2021 U20 World champion Kylie Welker (72 kg) and first-time Senior World Team member Areana Villaescusa (55 kg).

The World Championships will be broadcast live on FloWrestling

55 kg women’s freestyle

While there is no past Olympic or Senior World champion in this group, there are seven athletes on the registration list who have won at least one Senior World or Olympic medal, and a few who have won multiple Senior medals. That means the weight class will be very competitive, but without a clear-cut favorite.

The strongest resume belongs to Individual Neutral Athlete Iryna Kurachkina, who hails from Belarus. A 2020 Olympic silver medalist at 57 kg, Kurachkina boasts a pair of Senior World bronze medals (2017, 2019). The other multiple Senior World medalist is Oleksandra Khomenets of Ukraine, a 2022 World silver medalist and a 2021 World bronze medalist. Both have also won an age-group World medal.

A pair of 2021 Senior World silver medalists in the field are Nina Hemmer of Germany and Iulia Leorda of Moldova. Hemmer won her World silver at 55 kg, while Leorda won her World silver at 53 kg. Hemmer also competed in the 2016 Olympic Games. Leorda was a 2014 World University champion.

The three past World bronze medalist are Individual Neutral Athlete Olga Khoroshavtseva, who hails from Russia, plus Karla Godinez of Canada and Jowita Wrzesien of Poland. Khoroshavtseva won her World bronze in 2019 and was also a 2020 Olympian and a two-time European champion. Godinez was a 2022 World bronze medalist and fifth in the 2023 Worlds, with a Pan American title in 2022. Wrzesien, who won her World bronze in 2022, also competed in the 2020 Olympics.

The top challenger without a Senior medal is Japan’s Moe Kiyooka, who has won age-group World titles at the U17, U20 and U23 levels. This is her first Senior World Championships appearance. Two other age-group World champions in the draw are Jin Zhang of China and Ramona Galambos of Hungary. Zhang as a 2024 U20 World champion. Galambos has been a 2018 World University champion, 2013 U17 World champion, and placed fifth at the 2016 Senior Worlds.

A familiar name in the draw is Maria Baez Dilone of Spain, who has had a successful college career in the USA. Baez was an NCWWC runner-up for King last year, and won Junior College national titles for Umpqua CC. The U.S. will be represented by first-time Senior World Team member Areana Villaescusa, who has competed in two World Military Championships. Other athletes to watch include age-group World medalist Zulfiya Yakhyarova of Kazakhstan, 2023 Asian U23 champion Otgontuya Chinbold of Mongolia and two-time Pan American medalist Zeltzin Hernandez of Mexico.

55 kg preliminary entries

Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN/BLR)

Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN/RUS)

Irena BINKOVA (BUL)

Karla GODINEZ (CAN)

Jin ZHANG (CHN)

Maria BAEZ (ESP)

Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA)

Nina HEMMER (GER)

Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) –

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)

Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ)

Iulia LEORDA (MDA)

Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX)

Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL)

Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)

Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)

Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR)

Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA)

59 kg Women’s freestyle

This weight class has a clear favorite, two-time Olympic champion Risako Kinjo of Japan. You may know her as Risako Kawai, with Olympic gold medals from Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020. She also boasts three Senior World titles, a Senior World silver and three age-group World titles. Tokyo was her last World-level event, although she recently won a 2024 Asian title. To reach the top of the podium, you may need to beat Kinjo.

There are two other Senior World champions in the draw, Jacarra Winchester of the United States and Tserenchimed Sukhee of Mongolia. Winchester claimed her World title in 2019, and added a 2023 World silver. She consistently reaches medal matches, also placing fifth at the 2020 Olympics and at two Senior World meets. Winchester moved up from 55 kg to 59 kg for this World event and remains strong when she goes up in weight.

Sukhee was a 2014 World champion and 2015 World silver medalist and won a U20 World title way back in 2013. She has competed at 62 kg since 2000, but drops down for another chance at a World title. Two other Senior World bronze medalists are entered, Evelina Nikolova of Bulgaria and Othelie Hoeie of Norway. Nikolova, a 2015 World bronze medalist and 2020 Olympian, has been a European Senior silver medalist three times. Hoeie won her World bronze in 2023.

There are four others in the draw who have been fifth in the Worlds, dropping their one bronze medal opportunity: Alyona Kolesnik of Azerbaijan, Kateryna Zhydachevska of Romania, Individual Neutral Athlete Svetlana Lipatova from Russia and Elena Brugger of Germany. Kolesnik was fifth at the 2023 Worlds, and was a 2024 European champion. Zhydachevska and Lipatova were both fifth at the 2018 World Championships, Zhydachevska at 57 kg and Lipatova at 59 kg. Lipatova was also a 2013 U20 World champion. Brugger was fifth at the 2023 Worlds and added a 2018 University World title.

Two other past age-group World champions are scheduled to compete, Laurence Beauregard of Canada and Solimiia Vynnyk of Ukraine. Beauregard was a 2018 University World champion and boasts three Pan American Senior titles. Vynnyk was a 2022 European Senior silver medalist. Other past age-group World medalists include Mansi of India, Magdalena Glodek of Poland, Sevim Akbas of Turkey, Erika Bognar of Hungary and Esther Kolawole of Nigeria. Mansi won three age-group World medals, while Glodek and Akbas has won two age-group World medals.

Others to watch are 2016 Olympian Mariana Cherdivara of Moldova, 2024 Asian champion Yongxin Feng of China and 2024 Pan American bronze medalist Ana Pereira Franca of Brazil.

59 kg preliminary entries

Svetlana LIPATOVA (AIN/RUS)

Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)

Ana PEREIRA FRANCA (BRA)

Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)

Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)

Yongxin FENG (CHN)

Elena BRUGGER (GER)

Erika BOGNAR (HUN)

MANSI (IND)

Risako KINJO (JPN)

Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)

Mariana CHERDIVARA (MDA) –

Alejandra RIVERA ARRIAGA (MEX)

Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL)

Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)

Othelie HOEIE (NOR)

Magdalena GLODEK (POL)

Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU)

Evelina HULTHEN (SWE)

Sevim AKBAS (TUR)

Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)

Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)

65 kg women’s freestyle

Japan brings the top veteran star at this weight class as well, 2022 World champion and three-time Senior World medalist Miwa Morikawa. She won her 2022 World gold and 2021 World silver at 65 kg, and her 2023 World bronze at 72 kg. She boasts a 2022 U23 World gold and a 2019 U20 World gold, as well. Morikawa has been competing on the Senior level since 2017.

Two past World silver medalists are in the draw, Macey Kilty of the United States and Jia Long of China. Kilty won her Senior World silver at 65 kg in 2023. Kilty brings a 2018 U17 World title, one of her five age-group World medals. Kilty goes for another age-group medal this week at the U23 Worlds and will stay in Tirana for the Senior Worlds. Long was a 2022 World silver medalist, a 2020 Olympian, and claimed the 2023 Asian Championships title.

The only other past Senior World medalist in the preliminary field is 2019 World bronze medalist Elis Manolova of Azerbaijan. Manolova competed in the 2020 Olympics, was fifth at the 2022 Senior Worlds, and also claimed a 2019 European Senior silver medal. Two other wrestlers have been fifth in a past Senior World Championships, Olivia DiBacco of Canada and Kendra Dacher of France. DiBacco was fifth in the World twice, back in 2018 and 2021, and has won two Pan American Senior titles. Dacher was fifth at the 2023 Senior Worlds, and is a two-time age-group World medalist.

Past age-group World champions include Manisha of India and Iryna Bondar of Ukraine. Manisha was a 2016 U17 World champion. Bondar won the 2024 U20 World title and is a four-time age-group World medalist. There are five other past age-group World medalists in the preliminary entry list, Kateryna Zelenykh of Romania, Aurora Campagna of Italy, Elma Zeidlere of Latvia, Natalia Kubaty of Poland and Duygu Gen of Turkey. Zelenykh has won three age-group World medals.

Others to watch include multiple European Senior medalist Yeranika Ivanova, an Individual Neutral Athlete from Belarus, 2024 Asian Senior silver medalist Enkhjin Tuvshinjargal of Mongolia and 2023 World Championships participant Valeriia Dondupova, an Individual Neutral Athlete from Russia.

65 kg preliminary entries

Veranika IVANOVA (AIN/BLR)

Valeriia DONDUPOVA (AIN/RUS)

Albina DRAZHI (ALB)

Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)

Olivia DI BACCO (CAN)

Jia LONG (CHN)

Kendra DACHER (FRA)

MANISHA (IND)

Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA)

Eldarah BROWN (TON)

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)

Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ)

Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT)

Alexis GOMEZ (MEX)

Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL)

Natalia KUBATY (POL)

Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU)

Duygu GEN (TUR)

Iryna BONDAR (UKR)

Macey KILTY (USA)

72 kg Women’s freestyle

Based upon preliminary entries, this may be the most wide-open weight class at Senior Worlds in women’s freestyle in Albania. There are no World or Olympic champions, and just three past Senior World medalists. Zhamila Bakbergenova of Kazakhstan has the deepest resume, with Senior World silver medals in 2021 and 2022. Bakbergenova boasts three Asian Senior titles and three age-group World medals. The other past World finalist is 2022 World silver medalist Ami Ishii of Japan, who was also fifth in the 2023 Senior Worlds. Ishii won a 2022 U20 World title.

The other Senior medalist in the field is 2022 World bronze medalist Alexandra Anghel of Romania, who was a 2023 European Senior champion and has won two age-group World medals. Only one other athlete in the draw has reached a Senior World medal match, Adela Hanzlickova of Czechia, who was fifth in the 2021 Senior Worlds. Hanzlickova was a 2016 Olympian and was a 2023 U23 World Championships.

Kylie Welker of the USA, who will be competing in her second Senior World Championships, was a 2021 U20 World champion and boasts three age-group World medals. Welker will compete in the U23 World Championships this week, then go back-to-back in Albania by also competing at the Senior Worlds. Another past age-group champion is 2021 U23 World champion Anastasiya Alpyeyeva of Ukraine, a four-time age-group World medalist.

Age-group World silver medalists in the draw include Individual Neutral Athlete Vusula Parfianovich of Russia, Qian Jiang of China and Bipasha of India. Parfianovich won a 2021 U23 World silver medal and was seventh at the 2023 Senior Worlds. Jiang won a 2018 U17 World silver medal, and added a 2024 Asian Senior gold medal. Bipasha was a 2021 U20 World silver medalist. Two other past age-group World medalists are Bolortungalag Zorigt of Mongolia and Tindra Sjoeberg of Sweden.

2022 European Senior silver medalist Pauline LeCarpentier of France is among the athletes seeking to break into the medal rounds. Individual Neutral Athlete Anastasiya Zimianova of Belarus was eighth in the 2023 Senior Worlds and was a 2019 European U23 champion. Nazar Batir of Turkey won a 2022 European U20 silver medal. Two athletes from the Pan American nations to watch are Aleah Nickel of Canada, a two-time Pan American Senior bronze medalist, and Thamires Martins Machado of Brazil, a 2019 Pan American Junior champion.

72 kg preliminary entries

Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (AIN/BLR)

Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN/RUS)

Thamires MARTINS MACHADO (BRA)

Aleah NICKEL (CAN)

Qian JIANG (CHN)

Rosie TABORA (COD)

Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE),

Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)

Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)

BIPASHA (IND)

Ami ISHII (JPN)

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)

Emilia CRECIUN (MDA)

Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)

Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)

Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE)

Nazar BATIR (TUR)

Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)

Kylie WELKER (USA)

2024 Senior World Championships

At Tirana, Albania, October 28-31

(local time. Tirana is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone)

Monday, October 28

10:30 a.m. - Qualification Rounds (Greco-Roman 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg and 82 kg)

6 p.m. - Semifinals (Greco-Roman 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg and 82 kg)

Tuesday, October 29

10:30 a.m. - Repechage (Greco-Roman 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg and 82 kg) and Qualification Rounds (Women's freestyle 55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg and 72 kg)

4:45 p.m. - Semifinals (Women's freestyle 55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg and 72 kg)

6 p.m. - Finals (Greco-Roman 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg and 82 kg)

Wednesday, October 30

10:30 a.m. - Repechage (Women's freestyle 55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg and 72 kg) and Qualification Rounds (Men's freestyle 61 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 92 kg)

4:45 p.m. - Semifinals (Men's freestyle 61 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 92 kg)

6 p.m. - Finals (Women's freestyle 55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg and 72 kg)

Thursday, October 31

4 p.m. - Repechage (Men's freestyle 61 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 92 kg)

6 p.m. - Finals (Men's freestyle 61 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 92 kg)

Senior World Women’s Freestyle Preview: World medalists Winchester, Kilty headline tough U.S. team

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