Khadzhimurat Gatsalov

Khadzhimurat Gatsalov
Gatsalov in 2019
Personal information
Native nameХаджимурат Солтанович Гацалов
Full nameKhadzhimurat Soltanovich Gatsalov
NationalityRussian
Born (1982-12-11) 11 December 1982 (age 41)
North Ossetia–Alania, North Ossetian ASSR
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight125 kg (276 lb)
96 kg (212 lb)
Sport
CountryRussia
SportWrestling
EventFreestyle
ClubCSKA Wrestling Club
American Kickboxing Academy (formerly)
Coached byVladislav Ceboev (1997–)
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing  Russia
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens 96 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place Budapest 2005 96 kg
Gold medal – first place Guangzhou 2006 96 kg
Gold medal – first place Baku 2007 96 kg
Gold medal – first place Herning 2009 96 kg
Gold medal – first place Budapest 2013 120 kg
Silver medal – second place Moscow 2010 96 kg
Bronze medal – third place Tashkent 2014 125 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2003 Riga 96 kg
Gold medal – first place 2004 Ankara 96 kg
Gold medal – first place 2006 Moscow 96 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Varna 96 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Tampere 96 kg
Updated on 17 September 2008

Khadzhimurat Soltanovich Gatsalov (Russian: Хаджимурат Солтанович Гацалов, born December 11, 1982) is a Russian wrestler.

He won the gold medal in the freestyle 96 kg class in the 2004 Summer Olympics, defeating future UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier in the semi-finals. He won five world medals in the 96 kg class at the FILA Wrestling World Championships. In 2013, he moved up to the 120 kg class and won a gold medal at the FILA Wrestling World Championships. He started his senior level competitive career at 84 kg in 2002 before moving up to 96 kg and 120 kg.

In 2014, Gatsalov became Cormier's training partner ahead of Cormier's fight against Jon Jones at UFC 182.[1]

As of November 2022, Gatsalov was appointed as the head coach of the Russian National Freestyle team.[2]

  1. ^ UFC Presents, Bad Blood: Jones vs. Cormier
  2. ^ "Olympic champion Gatsalov named head coach of Russian freestyle wrestling team - Athletistic". athletistic.com. 2022-11-25. Retrieved 2023-05-18.