Sourian Crowned as Greco-Roman "Wrestler of the Century" by Russian Media

Tehran - BORNA - As Iran’s Greco-Roman wrestling team celebrated its commanding victory at the 2025 World Championships in Croatia, one of the nation’s greatest icons was honored abroad: Russian outlet Izvestia named Hamid Sourian the best Greco-Roman wrestler of the 21st century, cementing his place as a legend of the sport.

Sourian's career is nothing short of historic. Between 2005 and 2014, he captured six world titles in the 55kg and 59kg categories—five of them consecutively at 55kg, an unprecedented feat in the modern era. Known for his explosive technique and ability to dominate world-class opponents, Sourian defined an era when Iranian wrestling emerged as a global powerhouse.

The timing of this recognition is symbolic. As Iran secured team gold in Zagreb, Sourian's legacy was simultaneously reaffirmed by international observers. Together, they highlight the continuity of Iranian excellence in Greco-Roman wrestling—from past icons to today’s champions like Amin Mirzazadeh, Mohammad Hadi Saravi, and Gholamreza Farkhi.

Full Roll of World Champions (21st Century)

55/57 kg

2001 – Hassan Rangraz (Iran)

2002 – Haidar Mamedaliyev (Russia)

2003 – Dariusz Jablonski (Poland)

2005 – Hamid Sourian (Iran)

2006 – Hamid Sourian  (Iran)

2007 – Hamid Sourian (Iran)

2009 – Hamid Sourian (Iran)

2010 – Hamid Sourian (Iran)

2011 – Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan)

2013 – Yun Won Chol (North Korea)

2018 – Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan)

2019 – Nugzari Tsurtsumia (Georgia)

2021 – Ken Matsui (Japan)

2022 – Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan)

2023 – Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan)

2024 – Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan)

2025 – Vakhtang Lolua (Georgia)

Sourian ryan dominated with five consecutive titles, while Azizli followed with four.

59/60 kg

2001 – Dilshod Aripov (Uzbekistan)

2002 – Armen Nazaryan (Bulgaria)

2003 – Armen Nazaryan (Bulgaria)

2005 – Armen Nazaryan (Bulgaria)

2006 – Joe Warren (USA)

2007 – David Bedinadze (Georgia)

2009 – Islam-Beka Albiyev (Russia)

2010 – Hasan Aliyev (Azerbaijan)

2011 – Omid Norouzi (Iran)

2013 – Ivo Angelov (Bulgaria)

2014 – Hamid Sourian (Iran)

2015 – Ismael Borrero (Cuba)

2017 – Kenichiro Fumita (Japan)

2018 – Sergey Emelin (Russia)

2019 – Kenichiro Fumita (Japan)

2021 – Victor Ciobanu (Moldova)

2022 – Zholaman Sharshenbekov (Kyrgyzstan)

2023 – Zholaman Sharshenbekov (Kyrgyzstan)

2025 – Aidos Sultanqali (Kazakhstan)

63 kg

2001 – Vaghinak Galstyan (Armenia)

2018 – Stepan Maryanyan (Russia)

2019 – Shinobu Ota (Japan)

2021 – Meysam Delkhani (Iran)

2022 – Sebastian Nad (Serbia)

2023 – Leri Abuladze (Georgia)

2024 – Nihat Mammadli (Azerbaijan)

67 kg

2001 – Filiberto Azcuy (Cuba)

2002 – Jimmy Samuelsson (Sweden)

2003 – Manuchar Kvirkvelia (Georgia)

2005 – Nikolay Gergov (Bulgaria)

2006 – Li Yong (China)

2007 – Farid Mansurov (Azerbaijan)

2009 – Farid Mansurov (Azerbaijan)

2010 – Ambako Vachadze (Russia)

2011 – Saeid Abdevali (Iran)

2013 – Han Soo Ryu (South Korea)

2014 – Davor Stefanek (Serbia)

2015 – Frank Staebler (Germany)

2017 – Han Soo Ryu (South Korea)

2018 – Artem Surkov (Russia)

2019 – Ismael Borrero (Cuba)

2021 – Mohammad Reza Geraei (Iran)

2022 – Mate Nemes (Serbia)

2023 – Luis Orta Sanchez (Cuba)

2025 – Malkhas Amoyan (Armenia)

72 kg

2014 – Chingiz Labazanov (Russia)

2015 – Rasul Chunayev (Azerbaijan)

2016 – Balint Korpasi (Hungary)

2017 – Frank Staebler (Germany)

2018 – Frank Staebler (Germany)

2019 – Abuyazid Mantsigov (Russia)

2021 – Malkhas Amoyan (Armenia)

2022 – Ali Arsalan (Serbia)

2023 – Ibrahim Ghanem (France)

2024 – Ulvi Ganizadeh (Azerbaijan)

77 kg

2001 – Ara Abrahamyan (Sweden)

2002 – Varteres Samurgashev (Russia)

2003 – Alexei Glushkov (Russia)

2005 – Varteres Samurgashev (Russia)

2006 – Vladimir Shatskikh (Ukraine)

2007 – Yakov Yanakiev (Bulgaria)

2009 – Selcuk Cebi (Turkey)

2010 – Selcuk Cebi (Turkey)

2011 – Roman Vlasov (Russia)

2013 – Hyeonwoo Kim (South Korea)

2014 – Arsen Julfalakyan (Armenia)

2015 – Roman Vlasov (Russia)

2017 – Viktor Nemes (Serbia)

2018 – Aleksandr Chekhirkin (Russia)

2019 – Tamas Lorincz (Hungary)

2021 – Roman Vlasov (Russia)

2022 – Akzhol Makhmudov (Kyrgyzstan)

2023 – Akzhol Makhmudov (Kyrgyzstan)

2025 – Malkhas Amoyan (Armenia)

82 kg

2014 – Peter Bacsi (Hungary)

2015 – Selcuk Cebi (Turkey)

2016 – Ramazan Abacharaev (Russia)

2017 – Maksim Manukyan (Armenia)

2018 – Peter Bacsi (Hungary)

2019 – Lasha Gobadze (Georgia)

2021 – Rafik Huseynov (Azerbaijan)

2022 – Burhan Akbudak (Turkey)

2023 – Rafik Huseynov (Azerbaijan)

2024 – Mohammad Ali Geraei (Iran)

2025 – Gholamreza Farkhi (Iran)

87 kg

2001 – Makharbek Khasanov (Georgia)

2002 – Ara Abrahamyan (Sweden)

2003 – Gucha Sisiachvili (Israel)

2005 – Alim Selimov (Belarus)

2006 – Mohamed Abdel Fattah (Egypt)

2007 – Alexey Mishin (Russia)

2009 – Nazmi Avluca (Turkey)

2010 – Hristo Marinov (Bulgaria)

2011 – Alim Selimov (Belarus)

2013 – Taleb Nematpour (Iran)

2014 – Melonin Noumonvi (France)

2015 – Zhan Beleniuk (Ukraine)

2017 – Metehan Basar (Turkey)

2018 – Metehan Basar (Turkey)

2019 – Zhan Beleniuk (Ukraine)

2021 – Zurab Datunashvili (Serbia)

2022 – Zurab Datunashvili (Serbia)

2023 – Ali Cengiz (Turkey) & David Losonczi (Hungary)

2025 – Alireza Mohammedi (Iran)

97 kg

2001 – Aleksandr Bezruchkin (Russia)

2002 – Mehmet Ozat (Turkey)

2003 – Martin Lidberg (Sweden)

2005 – Hamza Yerlikaya (Turkey)

2006 – Heiki Nabi (Estonia)

2007 – Ramaz Nozadze (Georgia)

2009 – Balazs Kiss (Hungary)

2010 – Amir Aliakbari (Iran)

2011 – Elis Guri (Bulgaria)

2013 – Nikita Melnikov (Russia)

2014 – Artur Aleksanyan (Armenia)

2015 – Artur Aleksanyan (Armenia)

2017 – Artur Aleksanyan (Armenia)

2018 – Musa Evloev (Russia)

2019 – Musa Evloev (Russia)

2021 – Mohammad Hadi Saravi (Iran)

2022 – Artur Aleksanyan (Armenia)

2023 – Gabriel Rosillo (Cuba)

2025 – Mohammad Hadi Saravi (Iran)

Heavyweight (130 kg)

2001 – Rulon Gardner (USA)

2002 – Dremiel Byers (USA)

2003 – Khasan Baroev (Russia)

2005 – Mijain Lopez (Cuba)

2006 – Khasan Baroev (Russia)

2007 – Mijain Lopez (Cuba)

2009 – Mijain Lopez (Cuba)

2010 – Mijain Lopez (Cuba)

2011 – Riza Kayaalp (Turkey)

2013 – Heiki Nabi (Estonia)

2014 – Mijain Lopez (Cuba)

2015 – Riza Kayaalp (Turkey)

2017 – Riza Kayaalp (Turkey)

2018 – Sergey Semenov (Russia)

2019 – Riza Kayaalp (Turkey)

2021 – Aliakbar Yousefi (Iran)

2022 – Riza Kayaalp (Turkey)

2023 – Amin Mirzazadeh (Iran)

2025 – Amin Mirzazadeh (Iran)

By naming Sourian the “Wrestler of the Century,” Russian media recognized what the wrestling world already knew: his dominance reshaped Greco-Roman wrestling. At the same time, Iran’s team triumph in Zagreb shows that his legacy is alive in the new generation.

From historic individual glory to collective team dominance, Iran today stands at the very summit of Greco-Roman wrestling.

End Article