CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 15) - A trio of gold medalists from the London 2012 Olympic Games top FILA's inaugural international rankings for women's freestyle wrestling.

Three-time Olympic Games gold medalists Saori YOSHIDA (Japan) and Kaori ICHO (Japan) top the rankings at 55kg and 63kg, respectively, while 72kg champion Natalya VOROBIEVA (Russia) sits atop the 72kg rankings as she collects more championship hardware at heavyweight.

VOROBIEVA, a three-time junior world champion before her London triumph, won the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix crown in January, added the Klippan Ladies Open title in February and then prevailed at the European championships in March.

Joining VOROBIEVA on her winter tour of triumphs was another former junior world champ, Valeria CHEPSARAKOVA (Russia), who matched her teammate win-for-win at wrestling's lightest weight category.

In addition to the Japanese veterans and the Russian young guns, the other three weight categories were shared by Jessica MacDONALD (Canada) at 51kg, ZHANG Lan (China) at 59kg, and Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (Mongolia) at 67kg.

These three weight categories have been the "non-Olympic" events in women's wrestling, but the distribution of results among the top 10 in these weight classes show they are as intensely competitive as the four categories contested at the Olympic Games.

The international rankings for women's freestyle wrestling are:

48 kg

Valeria CHEPSARAKOVA (Russia) won two big winter events at 48kg -- the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix and the Klippan Ladies Open -- and then welcomed spring with her first triumph at the European championships and the top spot on the FILA rankings.

Alyssa LAMPE (United States) defeated Elena VOSTRIKOVA (Russia) for the International Ukrainian title and the No.2 spot in the rankings.

1. 	Valeria CHEPSARAKOVA 	Russia 	(Europe No.1, Yarygin GP No.1, Klippan No.1) 
2. 	Alyssa LAMPE 	United States 	(International Ukrainian No.1) 
3. 	Elena VOSTRIKOVA 	Russia 	(Yarygin GP No.2, Int'l Ukrainian No. 2) 
4. 	Yana STADNIK 	Britain 	(Europe No.2) 	
5. 	PAK Yong-Mi 	DPR Korea 	(Asia No.1) 	
6. 	VU Thi Hang 	Vietnam 	(Asia No.2) 	
7. 	Patimat BAGOMEDOVA 	Azerbaidjan 	(Europe No. 3, Dan Kolov No.1) 	
8. 	Mikhniso NURMATOVA 	Kyrgyzstan 	(Asia No. 3, Klippan No.2) 	
9. 	Maroi MEZIEN 	Tunisia 	(Africa No.1) 	
10. 	Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA 	Belarus 	(Yarygin GP No.5, Dan Kolov No.3) 	

51 kg

Jessica MacDONALD (Canada) won the 2012 world championships title at 51kg and added World Cup honors and a Pan American championships crown this spring.

Yu MIYAHARA (Japan), a gold medalist  at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, took the Klippan Ladies crown in February but fell to MacDONALD, 2-1 (0-1, 2-0, 3-0), in their World Cup meeting in March.

1. 	Jessica MacDONALD 	Canada 	(Pan America No. 1, World Cup No.1) 
2. 	Tatyana AMANZHOL-BAKATYUK 	Kazakhstan 	(Asia No.1, Yarygin GP No.1) 
3. 	Yu MIYAHARA 	Japan 	(Europe No.3, Yarygin GP No.2, Klippan No.2) 
4. 	Ekaterina KRASNOVA 	Russia 	(Europe No.3, Yarygin GP No.2, Klippan No.2) 	
5. 	Roksana ZASINA 	Poland 	(European No.1, Int'l Ukrainian No.3) 	
6. 	LIU Haiping 	China 	(Asia No.2) 	
7. 	SO Sim-Hyang 	DPR Korea (Asia No.3) 	
8. 	Estera DOBRE 	Romania 	(Europe No.2, Dan Kolov No.3) 	
9. 	Yulia BLAHINYA 	Ukraine 	(Europe No.3, Yarygin No.3) 	
10. 	Isabelle SAMBOU 	Senegal 	(Africa No.1) 	

55 kg

All-galaxy Saori YOSHIDA has not posted any results since winning her 10th straight world championships title last September. But, YOSHIDA is practicing hard for the Japanese national team trials in June and will be seeking No.11 in Budapest.

World runner-up Helen MAROULIS (United States) and European champion Sofia MATTSSON (Sweden) are racking up the wins with an eye on YOSHIDA's No.1 position.

1. 	Saori YOSHIDA 	Japan 	(Olympic Games 3x No.1, World 10x No.1) 	
2. 	Helen MAROULIS 	United States 	(World Cup No.1, Int'l Ukrainian No.1) 
3. 	Sofia MATTSSON 	Sweden 	(Europe No.1, Klippan No.1) 
4. 	YANG Senlian 	China 	(Asia No.1) 	
5. 	Kanako MURATA 	Japan 	(Asia No.2) 	
6. 	Nadesda TRETYAKOVA 	Russia 	(Yarygin GP No.1, Klippan No.3) 	
7. 	Byambatseren SUNDEV 	Mongolia 	(Yarygin No.2, World Cup, No.2) 	
8. 	Tatyana OMELCHENKO 	Ukraine 	(Int'l Ukrainian No.2, Medved Prizes No. 3) 	
9. 	HAN Kum-Ok 	DPR Korea 	(Asia No.3) 	
10. 	Marie PREVOLARAKI 	Greece 	(Europe No. 2) 	

59 kg

No clear favorites in this weight category. 2012 world champion ZHANG Lan (China) seems to be a good place to start, while Zhargalma TSYRENOVA (Russia) is becoming a fixture on the awards podiums around Europe.

Chihiro KUMABE (Japan), although not No.1 at home, defeated world bronze medalist Tungalag MUNKHTUYA (Mongolia) for the Asia crown.  Hela RIABI (Tunisia) breaks into the top 10 with her second title at the African championships and a fifth place in Kiev.

1. 	ZHANG Lan 	China 	(2012 World No.1) 
2. 	Zhargalma TSYRENOVA 	Russia 	(Europe No. 2, Yarygin GP No.1) 
3. 	Anastassia HUCHOK 	Belarus 	(Europe No. 1, Medved Prizes No.3/63kg) 
4. 	Anna POLOVNEVA 	Russia 	(Yarygin GP No. 2, Int'l Ukrainian No.1) 	
5. 	Chihiro KUMABE 	Japan 	(Asia No.1) 	
6. 	Tungalag MUNKHTUYA 	Mongolia 	(Asia No. 2) 	
7. 	Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA 	Kyrgyzstan 	(Asia No.3, Klippan No.3) 	
8. 	Michelle FAZZARI 	Canada 	(World Cup No.1) 	
9. 	Hela RIABI 	Tunisia 	(Africa No.1. Int'l Ukrainian No.5) 	
10. 	Yaqueline ESTORNELL ELSTIQUE 	Cuba 	(Pan America No.1) 	

63 kg

Kaori ICHO (Japan) missed the world championships in 2008 and 2009 after winning the Olympic gold medal in Beijing, but is not letting any grass grow under her feet as she prepares for the Japanese team trials in June and a trip to Budapest in September.

Elena PIROZHKOVA (United States) became the first non-Japanese wrestler since 2002 to win a world or Olympic title at 63kg when she prevailed in Strathcona County, Canada last September.

Meanwhile, Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (Latvia) has been unbeaten since being body-slammed at the 2012 Games, avenging her loss in London with a victory over Olympic bronze medalist Battsetseg SORONZOLBOLD (Mongolia) in the semifinals of the Yarygin Grand Prix. 

1. 	Kaori ICHO 	Japan 	(Olympic Games 3x No.1, World 7x No.1) 
2. 	Elena PIROZKHOVA 	United States 	(2012 World No.1, Dave Schultz Memorial No.1) 
3. 	Anastasija GRIGORJEVA 	Latvia 	(Europe No.1, Yarygin GP No.1) 
4. 	XILUO zhuoma 	China 	(Asia No.1) 	
5. 	Battsetseg SORONZOBOLD 	Mongolia 	(Yarygin GP No.3, World Cup No.1) 	
6. 	Justine BOUCHARD 	Canada 	(Pan America No.1, Dave Schultz No.2) 	
7. 	Monika MICHALIK 	Poland 	(Europe No.2, Int'l Ukrainian No.3) 	
8. 	Katherine VIDIAUX LOPEZ 	Cuba 	(Pan America No.2) 	
9. 	Jackeline RENTARIA CASTILLO 	Colombia 	(Pan America No.3, Klippan No.3) 	
10. 	Yurika ITO 	Japan 	(Asia No.2, World Cup No.2) 	

67 kg

Adeline GRAY (United States) won the world title in 2012, but appears to be headed to 72kg for a new challenge.  In her place, Asia champion and Yarygin Grand Prix winner Nasaburmaa OCHIRBAT (Mongolia) takes GRAY's place in the rankings.

Alina STADNIK-MAKHINYA (Ukraine) won the International Ukrainian tourney and then defeated the International Ukrainian winner at 63kg, Ilana KRATYSH (Israel) for the European crown.

1. 	Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT 	Mongolia 	(Asia No.1, Yarygin GP No.1) 
2. 	Alina STADNIK-MAKHINYA 	Ukraine 	(Europe No.1, Int'l Ukrainian No.1) 
3. 	Ilana KRATYSH 	Israel 	(Europe No. 2, Int'l Ukrainian No.1/63kg) 
4. 	Yulia BARTNOVSKAYA 	Russia 	(Yarygin GP No.3, Dan Kolov No.1) 	
5. 	Svetlana BABUSHKINA 	Russia 	(Europe No. 3, Klippan No.1) 	
6. 	Dorothy YEATS 	Canada 	(2012 World No.2) 	
7. 	Yoshiko INOUE 	Japan 	(2012 World No.3, Yarygin GP No.2) 	
8. 	Veronica CARLSON 	United States 	(Int'l Ukrainian No.3, Dave Schultz No.2) 	
9. 	Aline FOCKE 	Germany 	(Europe No.3, Klippan No.3) 	
10. 	Stacie Anaka 	Canada 	(Pan America No.1, Dave Schultz No.3)

72kg

London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist Natalya VOROBIEVA (Russia) took the triple crown of springtime events in women's freestyle wrestling and appears ready to tighten her grip on the category through the summer.

Maider UNDA (Spain), a bronze medalist in London, lost to VOROBIEVA in the European championship finals and snared a third place in Klippan, Sweden, while Vasilisa MARZALIUK (Belarus) has been the top bronze collector since taking a fifth place in London. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Hiroe SUZUKI (Japan) quietly controls the continent as she won the Asian championships title and individual honors at the World Cup meet in Ulan Baatar.

1. 	Natalia VOROBIEVA 	Russia 	(Europe No.1, Yarygin GP No. 1, Klippan No. 1) 	72-1
2. 	Maider UNDA 	Spain 	(Europe No.2, Klippan No.3) 	72-2
3. 	Vasillisa MARZALIUK 	Belarus 	(Europe No.3, Yarygin GP No.3, Int'l Ukrainian No.3) 	72-3
4. 	Hiroe SUZUKI 	Japan 	(Asia No. 1, World Cup No.1) 	
5. 	Katerina BURMISTROVA 	Ukraine 	(Europe No.3, Int'l Ukrainian No.1) 	
6. 	Burmaa OCHIRBAT 	Mongolia 	(Yarygin GP No.2, Dan Kolov No.1) 	
7. 	ZHANG, Fengliu 	China 	(Dave Schultz No.1, World Cup No.2) 	
8. 	Adeline GRAY 	United States 	(Dave Schultz No.2, 2012 World No.1/67kg) 	
9. 	Jenny FRANSSON 	Sweden 	(2012 World No.1) 	
10. 	Lisset HECHEVARRIA MEDINA 	Cuba 	(Pan America No.1)

William May has been active in wrestling across three continents for more than 40 years as a competitor, coach, referee and journalist. William wrestled with the Minnesota Wrestling Club (USA) in the early 1970s and went to Japan as an English teacher and later a sportswriter for 16 years with the Kyodo News Service in Tokyo. In Japan, William continued to wrestle and coach at Kokushikan University in Tokyo. He also collaborated with the magazine, Japanese Wrestling Monthly, and later the website of the Japan Wrestling Federation. In 2002, William moved to Czech Republic where he teaches English, writes for the JWF website, and coaches at a local wrestling club in Kladno. In 2008 and 2012, William worked as the "Sports Information Specialist" for wrestling at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games. He can be reached on his Facebook page or by email, wmay52@hotmail.com.