The president of the Russian wrestling federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili, recently announced they will not renew the contract of long-time head freestyle wrestling coach Dzhambolat Tedeev. Tedeev has led Russia’s freestyle team for most of the past 20 years (2001-2012 & 2016-2022) with outstanding results. In that time, Russia won 11 world team titles with Russian wrestlers earning 99 total medals at the world championships/Olympics - 58 golds, 15 silvers, and 26 bronze. While Tedeev will no longer lead the freestyle team, Mamiashvili told the Russian press that Tedeev would continue to serve the Russian wrestling federation in a different role.

According to Wrestdag, Tedeev will likely pass the baton as head coach to Khadzhimurad Gatsalov.  A former world and Olympic champion, Gatsalov retired from competition in 2016 and has most recently coached in both Kazakhstan and Yakutia. As a competitor, Gatsalov won 8 total world/Olympic medals - 6 golds (5 worlds/1 Olympic), 1 silver, and 1 bronze. 

Watch a young Kyle Snyder take on Gatsalov at Beat The Streets in 2014:

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While Russia is the world’s leading power in freestyle wrestling, they have been banned from international competition since March of 2022 due to the war in Ukraine. The ban continues to be in place with Russian wrestlers most recently missing the 2022 World Championships this past September in Belgrade, Serbia.