Women's wrestling
Table of Contents
History of Women wrestling
Although evidence of women participating in wrestling dates back to ancient times—often reflected in cultural and folkloric motifs—this activity was not recognized as an official sport for a long period. Due to prevailing social and cultural restrictions in many countries, women’s involvement in wrestling remained limited for centuries.
In modern sports, the principle of gender equality holds great significance. Guided by this principle, women’s wrestling was formally established towards the end of the 20th century under the rules of freestyle wrestling. During the 1980s, unofficial competitions began to emerge in several countries, particularly in Japan, the United States, Canada, and the Scandinavian nations. The first Women’s World Wrestling Championship was held in Norway in 1987, marking a significant milestone in the international recognition of the sport. Just a year later, France hosted the inaugural Women’s European Wrestling Championship. The first Women’s Wrestling World Cup was also held in France in 2001, further accelerating the global growth and development of the sport.
Since 2004, women’s wrestling has been included in the Olympic Games. At the Athens, Beijing, and London Olympics, female wrestlers competed across four weight categories. Later, the International Olympic Committee, in adherence to gender equality principles, decided that all three wrestling styles would be equally represented at the Olympics—with six weight categories each.
Rules
In women’s wrestling, matches consist of two periods of three minutes each, totaling six minutes. For youth competitions (U17 and U15), each match lasts four minutes, with two-minute periods. A match can end early if one wrestler pins her opponent (a fall) or achieves a 10-point technical superiority. Scoring actions (techniques) are awarded 1, 2, 4, or 5 points. If the score is tied at the end of a match, the quality of points scored is considered first. If still tied, the winner is determined based on who scored the last point.
Women’s wrestling competitions are held across ten weight categories—six Olympic (50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg) and four non-Olympic (55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg, 72 kg).
The road to growth and wrestlers who left a mark
Azerbaijan is among the countries experiencing rapid progress in this discipline. Since 2007, the nation has paid increasing attention to women’s wrestling. The first major achievements are linked to the legendary figure of women’s wrestling, Mariya Stadnik. As Azerbaijan’s most decorated Olympian—with four medals and five appearances—Stadnik has etched her name in the country’s sporting history as a two-time world and ten-time European champion. Following in her footsteps, athletes such as Sona Ahmadli, Yuliya Ratkevich, Nataliya Synyshyn, Elis Manolova, Alyona Kolesnik, and Jala Aliyeva have continued the path to success. Today, national championships in women’s wrestling are regularly held in Azerbaijan, and participation is growing rapidly. The consistent international accomplishments underscore the immense potential of women’s wrestling in the country.
