Gholamreza Farokhi Named Greco-Roman Breakout of the Year
WANA (Dec 14) – United World Wrestling (UWW) has named Iranian wrestler Gholamreza Farokhi, the 82kg Greco-Roman world champion, as the Breakout Star of the Year.
Farokhi delivered a standout performance at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Croatia, where he captured the gold medal and announced himself on the senior stage in his first major appearance. His dominant showing quickly drew the attention of wrestling experts worldwide.
Across four major competitions—the World Championships in Croatia, the Under-23 World Championships, the Zagreb Ranking Series, and the Islamic Solidarity Games—Farokhi won gold medals in the 82kg and 87kg weight classes. He recorded a total of 17 victories in these events without conceding a single defeat.
With a commanding run of consecutive wins and consistently high-level performances, the Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler emerged as one of the most unmissable figures of the year, prompting UWW to recognize him as the Greco-Roman Wrestling Breakout of the Year.
In a weight class traditionally dominated by seasoned veterans, Farokhi’s exceptional power and composure at 82kg underscored the readiness of Iran’s new generation to shine on the global stage.
Farokhi had earlier made headlines at Iran’s national team trials, where he defeated Mohammadali Geraei, the captain of Iran’s Greco-Roman national team, to secure his place in the squad.
Iranian wrestler Gholamreza Farokhi. Social media/ WANA News Agency
