As the Olympic Games approach, we’ll start a series of articles looking at which countries are historically the best at each Olympic weight. First, we’ll look at the lightest weight, 57kg, by analyzing the results from the World Championships and Olympic Games since 2014 and 2000. 

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The Best Country At 57 kg Since 2014

Since 2014, 57 kg has been a weight class filled with parity. Russia, the United States, Japan, and Iran are all at the top winning four world or Olympic medals in that time frame. Beyond the top 4, 16 different countries have won medals at 57 kg in the last 10 years. That level of variance shows just how little separates the best in the world from one another. 

This year, Russia will notably not send a representative to compete at the Olympics. However, that doesn’t mean Russian-born wrestlers won’t be in the 57 kg bracket. 2022 World champion and 2023 world bronze medalist Zelimkhan Abakarov will be one of the main gold medal contenders and is a Russian now representing Albania. Vladimir Egorov will also be in the Olympic bracket at 57 kg and is a Russian-born wrestler now representing North Macedonia. Egorov has never medaled at a Worlds or Olympics but won a European gold medal back in 2022. 

57 kg Medals By Country Since 2014

The Best Wrestlers At 57 kg Over The Past 10 Years

Since 2014, 22 different wrestlers have won medals at the World Championships or Olympics at 57 kg. Of those wrestlers Zaur Uguev and Thomas Gilman have been the most successful. Uguev won three total medals, all gold, while Gilman won 4 total medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze). Both Gilman and Uguev will not be competing in Paris - Spencer Lee took out Gilman in the finals of the Olympic Trials and Uguev was not permitted to compete due to Russia’s ban after they invaded Ukraine. 

Medalists At 57 kg Since 2014

*Denotes 57 kg Paris Olympians

Of the top wrestlers over the past 10 years at 57 kg, only Stevan Micci, Zelimkhan Abakarov, and Rei Higuchi will compete at this year’s Olympics. Those three are all gold medal contenders and have the opportunity to move even higher up the list of best 57 kg wrestlers of their generation. 

Going Back Further - 57 kg Since 2000

Going back a little further can help tell an even deeper story of this weight class and provide a fuller picture of the changes that have taken place since 2000. Before we get into the numbers, it’s worth noting that weight classes have changed since 2000, and the following weights were used for the below data 54 kg & 58 kg (2000-2001), 55 kg (2002-2013), and 57 kg (2014-2023).

57 kg Medals By Country Since 2000

As the above chart shows, Russia has been the clear leader of this weight class since 2000. Despite Russia’s dominance, this also shows that the USA, Japan, and Iran have all closed the gap over the past 10 years and this weight class is becoming more and more unpredictable. 

What Does This Mean For 57 kg At The Paris Olympics?

The above numbers and charts will mean very little to the wrestlers who take the mat in Paris at 57 kg. However, they do help tell a story of the landscape of the weight class before wrestling takes place. Will Spencer Lee carry on the success that Thomas Gilman established? In Russia’s absence, will Rei Higuchi help Japan overtake the title of “Best Lightweight Country”? Stevan Micic and Zelimkhan Abakarov have the opportunity to be just the third multi-time gold medalist in the past 10 years. The above data also shows that we’ve seen incredible variance at 57 kg and we certainly could see a surprise medalist or champion in Paris. Regardless of what happens, 57 kg will be one of the most exciting weights to watch from start to finish!