1. Early Life and Career in Ukraine
Mariya Stadnik's early life and foundational wrestling career took place in Ukraine, where she began honing her skills and achieved significant success before transferring her nationality.
1.1. Birth and Early Training
Stadnik was born on December 3, 1988, in Lviv, which was then part of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union. She began her wrestling journey in 2000, demonstrating early promise in the sport. To further her athletic development, she pursued and completed her education at the Lviv State University of Physical Culture.
1.2. Junior and Cadet Career
Stadnik quickly rose through the ranks in her junior and cadet years, securing several international medals while representing Ukraine. In August 2003, at the age of 14, she won her first international gold medal at the European Junior Championship in Seville, Spain, defeating Alina Pogachan of Romania in the final. The following year, in July 2004, she earned a silver medal at the European Junior Championships in Albena, Bulgaria, losing to Sofia Mattsson of Sweden in the final. Her most significant early achievement came in July 2005 at the World Junior Championship in Vilnius, Lithuania. Competing in the 97 lb (44 kg) category, the 16-year-old Stadnik delivered a dominant performance, securing victories over Sudes Kumar of India, Anniha Hofmann of Germany, and Demet Kaya of Turkey by fall or technical superiority. In the final match against Ti Han Nguyen of Vietnam, Stadnik won with a score of 8:0 in 2 minutes and 50 seconds, claiming the World Junior Championship gold medal.
1.3. 2006 European Championship Controversy
In 2006, Stadnik, still representing Ukraine, competed at the European Championship held in Russia from April 25 to 30. She advanced through the rounds, defeating Fani Psata of Greece, Hagar Ashtiani of Finland, and Christina Kroitor of Romania, ultimately reaching the final. In the championship match, she secured a hard-fought victory over Lilia Kasharova of Russia, winning the gold medal in the 106 lb (48 kg) category. However, in June 2006, the International Wrestling Federation (FILA) announced that a blood test taken from Mariya Stadnik showed the presence of Furosemide, a prohibited substance. As a result, her gold medal from the European Championship was revoked, and she was issued a ban from competing in international tournaments for a period. Following this, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later ruled that all results obtained by her between April 26, 2006, and April 25, 2008, would be disqualified.
2. Nationality Transfer to Azerbaijan
Mariya Stadnik's nationality transfer to Azerbaijan in 2007 was a pivotal moment in her career, driven by a desire for more competitive opportunities. After her one-year ban from international tournaments concluded in April 2007, she faced significant challenges within the Ukrainian national wrestling team. Intense competition for the "number one" spot in her weight category, particularly with Iryna Merleni, the 2004 Olympic champion who had returned from maternity leave, meant that Stadnik, then 18, was considered too young and inexperienced by the Ukrainian coaching staff for the upcoming 2007 World Championship, which was a qualifier for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
With her primary goal being to compete at the 2008 Olympics, Stadnik decided to leave the Ukrainian national team. Coincidentally, the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation (AWF) was actively recruiting wrestlers from other national teams to strengthen its newly forming women's national team in preparation for the 2007 World Championship, which was to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The AWF had already recruited wrestlers such as Maria Kachina from Russia, Olesya Zamula from Latvia, and Yulia Ratkevich from Belarus. Mariya Stadnik received an invitation from the AWF to join the Azerbaijani national team, which she accepted. This decision marked the beginning of her competitive career representing Azerbaijan in international tournaments. She competed at the 2007 World Championship in Baku, where she finished 7th. However, due to the retroactive CAS decision regarding her doping ban, all her results from this period were later disqualified.
3. Competitive Career Representing Azerbaijan
Mariya Stadnik embarked on an extensive and highly successful career representing Azerbaijan, achieving numerous medals at the highest levels of international wrestling.
3.1. Olympic Games Performance
Mariya Stadnik has the distinction of being the first Azerbaijani athlete to win four Olympic medals, making her the most decorated Olympian for her adopted country. She earned two silver and two bronze medals across four different Olympic Games, demonstrating remarkable longevity and consistency.
3.1.1. 2008 Beijing Olympics
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, Stadnik competed in the women's freestyle 106 lb (48 kg) event, marking her Olympic debut for Azerbaijan. After receiving a bye in the qualification round, she faced Carol Huynh of Canada in the Round of 16, where she suffered a loss with scores of 3-4 and 0-2. As Huynh advanced to the final, Stadnik entered the repechage bracket. She secured a decisive victory in Repechage 2 against Kim Hyung-joo of South Korea with scores of 1-0 and 3-2. In the bronze medal match, she dominated Tatyana Bakatyuk of Kazakhstan, winning with scores of 2-1 and 8-0, securing her first Olympic medal, a bronze.
3.1.2. 2012 London Olympics
Stadnik's second Olympic appearance was at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, where she competed in the 106 lb (48 kg) category. Following a bye, she defeated Clarissa Chun of the United States and Iwona Matkowska of Poland in her initial matches. In the semifinal, she faced her former Ukrainian teammate, Iryna Merleni, whom she defeated by a decision without technical points (3-0). This victory propelled her into the gold medal match against Hitomi Obara of Japan. In a closely contested final, Stadnik ultimately lost to Obara, earning her first Olympic silver medal.
3.1.3. 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Stadnik once again competed in the 106 lb (48 kg) event. She received a bye in the qualification round. She advanced through the tournament with strong performances, securing victories over Patricia Bermúdez of Argentina and Iwona Matkowska of Poland with technical superiority. In the semifinal, she defeated Elitsa Yankova of Bulgaria. For the gold medal match, she faced Eri Tosaka of Japan. Despite leading 2-1 late in the match, Tosaka managed to score a critical point in the final seconds, leading to Stadnik's defeat by fall (2-3) and her second consecutive Olympic silver medal.
3.1.4. 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Mariya Stadnik participated in her fourth Olympic Games at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, competing in the women's freestyle 110 lb (50 kg) event. She began her campaign with a victory over Stalvira Orshush of the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee). She then secured a dominant win by technical superiority against Sarra Hamdi of Tunisia in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, she faced Yui Susaki of Japan and was defeated by technical superiority (0-4). Despite the loss, Stadnik advanced to the bronze medal match, where she delivered a commanding performance against Tsogt-Ochiryn Namuuntsetseg of Mongolia, winning by technical superiority and earning her second Olympic bronze medal.
3.1.5. 2024 Paris Olympics
Stadnik qualified for her fifth Olympic Games, the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, by securing a quota place for Azerbaijan at the 2024 World Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey. Prior to this, she had competed at the 2024 European Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan, but was eliminated in her second match there. At the Paris Olympics, she competed in the women's 110 lb (50 kg) event but was eliminated in her second match by Dolgorjavyn Otgonjargal of Mongolia.
3.2. World Championships Achievements
Stadnik has an impressive record at the World Wrestling Championships, securing two gold, three silver, and one bronze medal.
- 2009 Herning: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2011 Istanbul: Silver medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2014 Tashkent: Bronze medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2015 Las Vegas: Silver medal (106 lb (48 kg)), where she lost to Eri Tosaka in the final.
- 2018 Budapest: Silver medal (110 lb (50 kg))
- 2019 Nur-Sultan: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg)), marking her second World Championship title and ending a decade-long wait for a World gold.
3.3. European Championships Record
Mariya Stadnik boasts an extraordinary record at the European Wrestling Championships, where she has won ten gold medals, showcasing her consistent dominance in her weight categories.
- 2008 Tampere: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2009 Vilnius: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2011 Dortmund: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2014 Vantaa: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2016 Riga: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2017 Novi Sad: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2018 Kaspiysk: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg))
- 2021 Warsaw: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg))
- 2023 Zagreb: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg))
- 2024 Bucharest: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg)), defeating Evin Demirhan Yavuz of Turkey in the final.
3.4. Other Major International Tournaments
Beyond the Olympics, World, and European Championships, Stadnik has also achieved significant victories and medal finishes in numerous other international competitions, further solidifying her status as a top-tier wrestler.
- European Games:**
- 2015 Baku: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2019 Minsk: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg))
- Islamic Solidarity Games:**
- 2017 Baku: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2021 Konya: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg))
- Golden Grand Prix:**
- 2008 Baku: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2009 Baku: Bronze medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2011 Baku: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2014 Baku: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2014 Paris: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- Other Grand Prix:**
- 2011 Goetzis: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2012 London: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2012 Kyiv: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2012 Dormagen: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2014 Klippan: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2014 Dormagen: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2015 Klippan: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2016 Kyiv: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2018 Klippan: Silver medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- Yasar Dogu Tournament:**
- 2011 Istanbul: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- Dan Kolov & Nikola Petrov Tournament:**
- 2018 Sofia: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg))
- 2023 Sofia: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg))
- Poland Open:**
- 2015 Warsaw: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2016 Spala: Gold medal (106 lb (48 kg))
- 2018 Warsaw: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg))
- 2021 Warsaw: Gold medal (110 lb (50 kg))
4. Personal Life
Mariya Stadnik was born in Lviv, Ukraine, and maintains strong ties to her hometown. She is married to Andriy Stadnik, a Ukrainian wrestler who also competed at the Olympic level. The couple has two children: a son, Igor, born in 2010, and a daughter, Mia, born in 2013. Her sister-in-law, Yana Rattigan (née Stadnik), is also a wrestler who competed in the same weight category. Mariya and Yana have faced each other three times in international competitions, with Mariya winning all encounters. Despite competing for Azerbaijan, Mariya Stadnik continues to reside in Lviv and is affiliated with the Lviv regional organization of the Spartak Physical Culture and Sports Association.
5. Retirement and Post-Career Role
Mariya Stadnik officially announced her retirement from competitive wrestling on February 2, 2025, bringing an end to her illustrious career as one of the sport's most dominant figures. Immediately following this announcement, on February 3, 2025, it was confirmed that she would take on a new administrative role within the sport. She was appointed as the coordinator for women's wrestling at the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation. This transition marks a new chapter for Stadnik, allowing her to continue contributing to the development of wrestling, particularly women's wrestling, in Azerbaijan.
6. Legacy and Impact
Mariya Stadnik's career has left a profound and lasting impact on the sport of wrestling, especially within Azerbaijan. Her remarkable achievement of winning four Olympic medals not only solidifies her place as one of the most successful female wrestlers in history but also makes her the first Azerbaijani athlete to reach this milestone, establishing her as the most decorated Olympian for the nation.
Stadnik's consistent performance at the highest levels, including two World Championship titles and an unprecedented ten European Championship gold medals, has set a high standard for aspiring wrestlers. Her dedication and perseverance, including her decision to change nationality to pursue competitive opportunities, underscore a deep commitment to her sport. Beyond her individual accolades, Stadnik's trailblazing career has significantly elevated the profile of women's wrestling in Azerbaijan, inspiring new generations of female athletes and contributing to the development and growth of women's sports within the country. Her post-retirement role as coordinator for women's wrestling at the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation further cements her influence, ensuring her experience and leadership will continue to shape the future of the sport.