Aniuar Geduev

2.1. Birth and Early Life

Aniuar Geduev was born on January 26, 1987, in Psygansy, a rural locality in the Urvansky District of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Russia. He later resided in Nalchik, the capital city of Kabardino-Balkaria.

2.2. Ethnic Background and Nationality

Geduev is of Kabardian (Къэбэрдей_Kabardey^Kabardian) ancestry, which is a subgroup of the wider Circassian ethnic group indigenous to the North Caucasus region. He holds Russian citizenship.

3.1. Introduction to Wrestling and Training

Geduev began his journey in wrestling, developing his skills under the guidance of several prominent coaches. His training regimen was shaped by the expertise of Alan Kaziev, Arsen Khasanov, and Anvar Magomedov. He was associated with the CSKA Wrestling Club and the CSC Nalchik, where he honed his competitive abilities.

3.2. Weight Class and Wrestling Style

Aniuar Geduev primarily competed in the 74 kg division of freestyle wrestling. His competitive weight was 74 kg, although his listed weight is 79 kg, indicating he typically cut weight for competitions. He stands at 5.7 ft ^{(1.75 m)} tall. His style of wrestling, characteristic of freestyle, emphasized dynamic attacks, quick transitions, and strategic defense, allowing him to achieve numerous victories against top-tier opponents.

4.1. European Championships

Geduev demonstrated early dominance in his weight class at the European level. He secured gold medals at two consecutive European Wrestling Championships:

• 2013 European Wrestling Championships**: He won the gold medal in the 74 kg division at the championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia.
• 2014 European Wrestling Championships**: He successfully defended his title, earning another gold medal in the 74 kg division at the championships in Vantaa, Finland.

4.2. European Games

In 2015, Geduev continued his winning streak at the inaugural European Games.

• 2015 European Games**: He claimed the gold medal in the 74 kg freestyle event at the games held in Baku, Azerbaijan. In the final match, he decisively defeated Soner Demirtaş of Turkey by technical fall, with a score of 10-0.

4.3. World Championships

Geduev achieved his first world medal in 2015, showcasing his prowess on the global stage.

• 2015 World Wrestling Championships**: He earned a bronze medal in the 74 kg category at the championships held in Las Vegas, United States.

4.4. Olympic Games

The pinnacle of Geduev's career came at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where he earned an Olympic silver medal.

• 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics**: Competing in the men's freestyle 74 kg category, Geduev delivered a strong performance.
  • In the opening round, he defeated Bekzod Abdurakhmonov of Uzbekistan.
  • He then advanced to the quarterfinals, where he notably overcame Jordan Burroughs of the United States, a highly decorated wrestler.
  • In the semifinals, he secured his spot in the final by defeating Jabrayil Hasanov of Azerbaijan.
  • In the gold medal match, Geduev faced Hassan Yazdani of Iran. He ultimately lost the final match, securing the silver medal for his country.

4.5. World Cup

Geduev also achieved success in team-based international competitions.

• 2010 Wrestling World Cup**: He was part of the Russian team that won the gold medal in the 74 kg category at the World Cup held in Moscow, Russia.

4.6. Domestic Competitions

Domestically, Geduev proved himself as a top contender within Russia.

• 2016 Russian National Freestyle Wrestling Championships**: He won the Russian Nationals, which also served as the Olympic Team Trials. In a significant rematch, he defeated the three-time world champion Denis Tsargush, securing his place on the Olympic team.