Vadim Tasoyev

Vadim Zaurbekovych Tasoyev (also Vadym Tasoiev, Ukrainian: Вадим Заурбекович Тасоєв; born January 13, 1975, in Vladikavkaz, Russian SFSR) is a retired amateur Russian-Ukrainian freestyle wrestler, who competed in the men's heavyweight category.[1]

Vadim Tasoyev
Personal information
Full nameVadim Zaurbekovych Tasoyev
Nationality Ukraine
Born (1975-01-13) 13 January 1975
Vladikavkaz, Russian SFSR,
Soviet Union
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight96 kg (212 lb)
Sport
SportWrestling
StyleFreestyle
ClubOlympik Kyiv
CoachRuslan Savlokhov
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing  Ukraine
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2001 Sofia97 kg
Bronze medal – third place2002 Tehran97 kg
Bronze medal – third place2007 Baku120 kg
European Championships
Silver medal – second place2004 Ankara96 kg
Silver medal – second place2005 Varna96 kg
Bronze medal – third place2000 Budapest97 kg
Bronze medal – third place2003 Riga97 kg

Considered one of Ukraine's top freestyle wrestlers in his decade, Tasoyev had claimed four career medals (two silver and two bronze) in the 96 and 97-kg division at the European Championships, picked up three bronze at the World Championships (2001, 2002, and 2007), and achieved top fifteen finishes in two editions of the Olympic Games (2000 and 2004). Throughout his sporting career, Tasoyev trained as a member of the freestyle wrestling team for Olympik Kyiv Sport Club, under his head coach Ruslan Savlokhov.[2]

Career

Tasoyev made his official debut at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where he competed in the men's heavyweight division (97 kg). He lost his opening match to neighboring Russia's Sagid Murtazaliev, who later claimed the Olympic gold at the end of the tournament, without receiving a single point on the morning session, but wrestled his way to edge out U.S. wrestler and two-time Olympian Melvin Douglas with a 5–1 decision.[3][4] Finishing second in the prelim pool and eleventh overall, Tasoyev's performance fell short to put him further into the quarterfinals.[5]

Shortly after his first Games, Tasoyev emerged into the global scene with a blistering bronze medal effort in the men's 97-kg division at the 2001 World Wrestling Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, and then continued to deliver another one at the same tournament in Tehran, Iran by the following year. With two medals added to his career hardware, Tasoyev entered the 2003 World Wrestling Championships and came strong as a top medal contender. Though he finished eighth in the men's heavyweight division, he was officially selected to the Ukrainian Olympic team, and earned a ticket to his second Olympics.[6]

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Tasoyev qualified for his second Ukrainian squad, as a 29-year-old, in the men's heavyweight class (96 kg) by receiving a berth and placing eighth from the World Championships.[6] In the prelim pool, Tasoyev eclipsed Switzerland's Rolf Scherrer with a 6–1 decision on his opening bout, but could not grapple Russian wrestler and defending European champion Khadzhimurat Gatsalov into the ring, as he had been beaten by his fresh opponent without collecting a single point. Tasoyev failed to advance further into the quarterfinals after finishing the pool in second place and fourteenth overall.[7]

Tasoyev moved up to the super heavyweight class from 96 kg after his second Games, and was determined to fight against his formidable opponents at the 2007 World Wrestling Championships, where he picked up his third career medal. He sought to compete for his third Olympic bid in Beijing, but decided to officially announce his retirement from wrestling for personal and political reasons.[8]

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Vadim Tasoyev". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  2. Vernikov, Stanislav (22 October 2009). Руслан Савлохов: "Есть молодежь, и это не может не радовать" [Ruslan Savlokhov: "They are young and talented people".] (in Russian). Ukrainian Wrestling. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  3. Sodomka, Dennis (29 September 2000). "Douglas' Olympics ends with 2 defeats". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  4. Abbott, Gary (28 September 2000). "Henson, Slay win their pools and advance; Slay's win over Olympic champion Saitiev a major upset". USA Wrestling. The Mat. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  5. "Sydney 2000: Wrestling – Heavyweight Freestyle (97kg)" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. pp. 132–133. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  6. Abbott, Gary (18 July 2004). "Olympic Games preview at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in men's freestyle". USA Wrestling. The Mat. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  7. "Wrestling: Men's Freestyle 96kg". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  8. Вадим Тасоєв: Міліція зупиняє, бо я "особа кавказької національності" [Vadim Tasoyev: Military must stop because I am "a citizen of Caucasian community"] (in Ukrainian). Ukrayina Moloda. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
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