Taha Akgul has been named the wrestler of the year by United World Wrestling. Akgul has had a phenomenal year bouncing back from a somewhat rough performance in 2021 winning bronze at the Olympic Games and World Championships.
The Turkish legend picked up some massive wins in 2022 defeating rival Geno Petriashvili of Georgia in the rankings series, as well as getting revenge over reigning World Champion Amir Zare of Iran who shut him out at the World Championships in 2021.
Akgul beat Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur of Mongolia in the World Championships finals 6-2 to add a third world gold medal to his name.
Throughout his over a decade long career Akgul has become one of the most decorated wrestlers of all time winning 9 World and Olympic gold medals which includes an Olympic Gold medal from 2016 and bronze from the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Akgul has in the past stated that he will be looking to continue his career till the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris for a quest at a second Olympic Gold medal. With his performance this year he will be the man to beat.
