Date of competition: Friday, Sept. 16

The lightest freestyle weight class also has been one of the most unpredictable divisions in the sport.

Six different wrestlers have won World-level titles over the past six years at 55 kg/121 lbs.

There may be another new champion at this year’s World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

The latest World champion in this weight class is Russia’s Victor Lebedev, who captured his first World title last year in his home country. Lebedev, third in the World in 2009, continues to wrestle well after winning the Russian Nationals this year.

Russia’s Djamal Otarsultanov won the European Championships this year, but Lebedev is expected to be the entry at the Worlds.

Azerbaijan’s Toghrul Asgarov won a World silver medal at 55 kilos in 2010 with Frank Chamizo of Cuba and Yasuhiro Inaba of Japan claiming the bronze medals.

2009 World champion Kyong-Il Yang of North Korea won the Asian Championships this year. He defeated Inaba in the finals.

The United States features a first-year World Team member in veteran Nick Simmons, a dangerous competitor who has beaten some of the best wrestlers in the World.

Simmons pinned past World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Radoslav Velikov of Bulgaria and beat 2009 World silver medalist Sezar Akgul of Turkey at the Ziolkowski International this summer in Poland. Simmons placed fifth in the event.

2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo returned to the mat this year and won a match against Russia in the Beat the Streets Dual in New York City. Cejudo, 24, did not compete at the U.S. Open or U.S. World Team Trials this year, but he is planning to return to competition next season.

RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS

2010 World Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. – Gold – Victor Lebedev (Russia); Silver – Toghrul Asgarov (Azerbaijan); Bronze – Frank Chamizo (Cuba); Bronze – Yasuhiro Inaba (Japan); 5th – Hyo-Sub Kim (Korea); 5th – Naranbaatar Bayaraa (Mongolia); 7th – Radoslav Velikov (Bulgaria); 8th – Rizvan Gadzhiev (Belarus); 9th – Obe Blanc (USA); 10th – Hassan Rahimi (Iran)

2009 World Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. – Gold - Kyong-Il Yang (North Korea); Silver - Sezar Akgul (Turkey); Bronze - Victor Lebedev (Russia); Bronze - Rizvan Gadzhiev (Belarus); 5th - Krasimir Krastanov (Great Britain); 5th - Namig Sevdimov (Azerbaijan); 7th - Mykola Aivazian (Ukraine); 8th - Mihan Jaburyan (Armenia); 9th - Hyo-Sub Kim (Korea); 10th - Hassan Rahimi (Iran)

2008 Olympic Games
55 kg/121 lbs. – Gold - Henry Cejudo (USA); Silver - Tomohiro Matsunaga (Japan); Bronze – Radoslav Velikov (Bulgaria); Bronze – Besik Kudukhov (Russia); 5th – Namig Sevdimov (Azerbaijan); 5th – Dilshod Mansurov (Uzbekistan); 7th – Rizvan Gadzhiev (Belarus); 8th – Besarion Gochishvili (Georgia); 9th – Kim Hyo-Sub (Korea); 10th – Abbas Dabbaghi (Iran) 

2007 World Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold – Besik Kudukhov (Russia); Silver - Naranbaatar Bayaraa (Mongolia); Bronze – Andy Moreno (Cuba); Bronze - Rizvan Gadshiev (Belarus); 5th - Sezer Akguel (Turkey); 5th - Dilshod Mansurov (Uzbekistan); 7th - Freddy Serrano (Colombia); 8th - Zhassulan Mukhtabekuly (Kazakhstan); 9th - Anil Kumar (India); 10th - Firas Alrifaei (Syria)

2006 World Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. – Gold – Radoslav Velikov (Bulgaria); Silver – Besik Kudukhov (Russia); Bronze – Namig Abdullayev (Azerbaijan); Bronze – Sammie Henson (USA); 5th – Sub Kim-Hyo (Korea); 5th – Adkham Achilov (Uzbekistan); 7th – Vinod Kumar (India); 7th – Vinod Kumar (India); 8th – Taghi Dadashi (Iran); 9th – O Son Nam (North Korea); 10th – Amiran Kartanov (Greece)

2005 World Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold - Dilshod Mansurov (Uzbekistan); Silver - Radoslav Velikov (Bulgaria); Bronze - Hyon Guk Jon (North Korea); Bronze - Bayaraa Naranbaatar (Mongolia); 5th - Namig Abdullayev (Azerbaijan); 5th - Tomohiro Matsunaga (Japan); 7th - Jae-Hoon Jan (Korea); 8th - Gevork Markaryan (Ukraine); 9th - Zalimkhan Kutseev (Russia); 10th - Ghenadie Tulbea (Moldova)