Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan ended Russia’s reign in this weight class last year after winning a World title at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Gazymumov beat Russian legend Khadshimourad Gatsalov in the finals. Gatsalov, who won Russian Nationals this year, had won the previous four World titles in addition to winning the 2004 Olympics.

The Russians had won every World and Olympic title at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in freestyle from 2004 to 2009. Gatsalov is expected to be Russia’s entry this year.

Gazyumov has carried that momentum into this season. He won the European Championships earlier this year.

The returning bronze medalists are Alexey Krupnyakov of Kyrgyzstan and George Gogshelidze of Georgia. Gogshelidze placed second in the World in 2006 before winning bronze medals at the 2008 Olympics and the last two World Championships.

American Jake Varner has made significant improvement in freestyle and has made his second World Team.

Varner, a two-time NCAA champion for Iowa State, trains alongside Olympic gold medalist and fellow World Team member Cael Sanderson. Varner reached the World quarterfinals in 2009, but is noticeably bigger and stronger than he was two years ago.

Look for Varner to contend for a medal in Turkey.

2007 World bronze medalist Kurban Kurbanov of Uzbekistan won the Asian Championships this year.

Turkey’s Serhat Balci, third in the World in 2009, is another wrestler to watch in this weight class.

RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS

2010 World Championships
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Gold – Khetag Gazyumov (Azerbaijan); Silver – Khadshimourad Gatsalov (Russia); Bronze – Alexey Krupnyakov (Kyrgyzstan); Bronze – George Gogshelidze (Georgia); 5th – Ruslan Sheikhau (Belarus); 5th – Arfan Amiri (Iran); 7th – Khetag Pliev (Canada); 8th – Michel Batista (Cuba); 9th – Serhat Balci (Turkey); 10th – J.D. Bergman (USA)

2009 World Championships
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Gold – Khadshimourad Gatsalov (Russia); Silver - Khetag Gazyumov (Azerbaijan); Bronze - Serhat Balci (Turkey); Bronze - George Gogchelidze (Georgia); 5th - Ruslan Sheikhau (Belarus); 5th - Saeed Abrahimi (Iran); 7th - Oldrick Wagner (Germany); 8th - Saleh Moustafa Emara (Egypt); 9th - Jake Varner (USA); 10th - Edgar Yenokyan (Armenia)

2008 Olympic Games
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Gold - Shirvani Muradov (Russia); Silver - Taimuraz Tigiyev (Kazakhstan); Bronze – George Gogschelidze (Georgia); Bronze – Khetag Gazyumov (Azerbaijan); 5th – Michel Batista (Cuba); 5th – Georgii Tibilov (Ukraine); 7th - Kurban Kurbanov (Uzbekistan); 8th – Gergely Kiss (Hungary); 9th –Hakan Koc (Turkey); 10th – Saeid Abrahimi (Iran)

2007 World Championships
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Gold - Khadshimourad Gatsalov (Russia); Silver - Saeed Abrahimi (Iran); Bronze - Kurban Kurbanov (Uzbekistan); Bronze - Daniel Cormier (United States); 5th - Hakan Koc (Turkey); 5th - Alexej Krupniakov (Kyrgyzstan); 7th - Vasili Tismenetzki (Ukraine); 8th - Stefan Kehrer (Germany); 9th - Khetag Gazumov (Azerbaijan); 10th - Georgi Gogchelidze (Georgia)

2006 World Championships
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Gold - Khadshimourad Gatsalov (Russia); Silver – George Gogsehelidze (Georgia); Bronze – Michel Batista (Cuba); Bronze – Ruslan Sheyikhov (Belarus); 5th – David Zilberman (Canada); 5th – Ali Reza Heidari (Iran); 7th – Aleksei Kruphyakov (Kirghizistan); 8th – Vasil Tesmynetskyy (Ukraine); 9th – Stepan Kehrer (Germany); 10th – Patal Rohit (India)

2005 World Championships
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Gold - Khadshimourad Gatsalov (Russia); Silver - Luka Kurtanidze (Georgia); Bronze - Aleksei Krupnykov (Krygyzstan); Bronze - Vasyl Tesmeyneckyy (Ukraine); 5th - Tae-Hyun Koo (Korea); 5th - Siarhei Pernikau (Belarus); 7th - Amir Ganji (Iran); 8th - Bartolomie Bartnicki (Poland); 9th - Nurzhan Katayev (Kazakhstan); 10th - Gergely Kiss (Hungary)