Olympic wrestling champion Kyle Snyder won his fourth world title Tuesday (16 September), defeating Amir Ali Azarpira in the 97kg freestyle final at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
Snyder, the Rio 2016 gold medallist at 97kg, scored a 4-2 win over Paris 2024 bronze medal-winner Ali Azarpira, who represents the Islamic Republic of Iran. The American previously won the weight class in 2015, 2017 and 2022. He owns eight career medals at the World Championships.
Bahrain’s Akhmed Tazhudinov, the reigning Olympic champion, and Japan’s Arash Yoshida were the bronze medallists in the division.
The other men’s freestyle title decided Tuesday was in the 65kg weight class, where Iran’s Rahman Amouzad scored a decisive 10-0 victory over Japan’s Kiyooka Kotaro. This was a rematch from the Olympic Games Paris 2024 where Kiyooka claimed gold.
Real Woods of the United States and Umidjon Jalolov of Uzbekistan rounded out the podium.
The first two women’s titles were handed out, as well, with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Oh Kyong-ryong taking the 55kg title over Ekaterina Verbina and Japan’s Onishi Sakura winning the 59kg after defeating Ukranian Mariia Vynnyk.
In the 55kg division, Japan’s Uchida Sowaka and Romania’s Andreea Ana were the bronze medal winners, while Mongolia’s Togtokhyn Altjin and Canada’s Laurence Beauregard finished third in the 59kg class.
Competition in Zagreb continues Wednesday (17 September) with four women’s finals.