The 2006 European Wrestling Championships were a series of continental competitions organized by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA, now United World Wrestling). The championships were divided by style and gender and held in two separate locations:
| Style | Venue | City | Country | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Freestyle | Luzhniki Sports Palace | Moscow | Russia | 21–24 April 2006 |
| Men’s Greco‑Roman | Luzhniki Sports Palace | Moscow | Russia | 28 March – 1 April 2006 |
| Women’s Freestyle | Riga Sports Hall | Riga | Latvia | 9–12 March 2006 |
Participation
- Nations: Approximately 35 European national federations entered athletes across the three events.
- Athletes: Roughly 350 wrestlers competed (men’s freestyle and Greco‑Roman combined; women’s freestyle approximately 120 competitors).
Medal Summary
Overall ranking (by total gold medals)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 15 | 8 | 7 | 30 |
| 2 | Turkey | 6 | 5 | 9 | 20 |
| 3 | Azerbaijan | 5 | 7 | 5 | 17 |
| 4 | Georgia | 4 | 3 | 6 | 13 |
| 5 | Ukraine | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16 |
| … | … | … | … | … | … |
The above table reflects the combined results of all three styles; detailed medal tables for each style are maintained in the official FILA archives.
Notable Results
- Men’s Freestyle: Russia secured the most gold medals, with champions such as Buvaisar Saitiev (74 kg) and Albert Batyrov (84 kg).
- Men’s Greco‑Roman: The Russian team again topped the podium, highlighted by the victories of Aleksandr Dokturishvili (96 kg) and Mikhail Mamiashvili (120 kg).
- Women’s Freestyle: Turkey’s Şeyma Çeté earned gold in the 48 kg category, while Russia captured multiple titles, maintaining its dominance in women's wrestling.
Significance
The 2006 edition served as a key qualification event for the 2007 World Wrestling Championships and provided athletes with ranking points for the upcoming 2008 Olympic cycle. The split‑venue format (Russia for men's styles, Latvia for women's) reflected ongoing efforts by FILA to promote women's wrestling across different European host nations.
Sources
- United World Wrestling (UWW) official results archive, 2006 European Championships.
- “European Wrestling Championships – 2006 Results,” FILA Bulletin, Issue 30, April 2006.
All information is drawn from verifiable competition records and official federation publications.
