Yazdani is a two-division Olympic and world champion in freestyle wrestling. He became the Olympic champion in the 74 kg category at the 2016 Summer Olympics, defeating Russian wrestler Anyuar Geduev in the final.
The following year, he became world champion in the men’s freestyle 86kg category at the 2017 World Wrestling Championships. He won his second world title at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships in Kazakhstan and his third world title at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships in Norway.
Yazdani also won two silver medals at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.
United World Wrestling (UWW) has described Iranian freestyle wrestler Yazdani as “the greatest.”
He recently underwent shoulder surgery in Paris.
Yazdani will change weight classes and compete in the 92kg weight class at the world championships. The weight class will be changed to 97kg for the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Olympics.
Yazdani is the most decorated Iranian wrestler with eight world championship and Olympic medals.
MNA/TT