A monumental achievement for Greek wrestling: Giorgos Kougioumtzidis has been crowned world champion in the 79kg freestyle category at the premier international event held in Zagreb, Croatia.
The “phenomenon” of Greek wrestling has inscribed his name in one of the sport’s most historic moments. With his gold medal, he became the first Greek athlete ever to reach the top at a World Championship.
In the grand final, Kougioumtzidis faced American Levi David Haines and from the first minute demonstrated control and confidence on the mat. With superb strategy, he took an early 3–0 lead and secured an unforgettable triumph for Greek wrestling.
The American challenger only managed to score two points in the dying seconds, when the outcome had already been decided.
The final score of 3–2 placed the Greek champion on the highest step of the podium, as the Greek flag waved proudly above the Croatian capital.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated Kougioumtzidis for his historic achievement:
“Congratulations to Giorgos Kougioumtzidis who made history, giving Greece its first-ever gold medal at a World Wrestling Championship, in Zagreb. He conquered the world at 79kg Freestyle. Thank you for making us proud!”
