Now that the 2020 Olympic team has been set, it’s time to look ahead to the 2021 World Championships. In reality, it’s the 2021 Olympic team but the Games were postponed due to a global pandemic. 

Wrestling competition for the Tokyo Olympics will take place on August 1-7 followed by the World Championships in Oslo, Norway on October 2-10. That’s a fairly quick turnaround for the two most prestigious events in international wrestling. 

Here is what you need to know about this year’s World Team Trials scheduled for September 3-5 at a location to be determined.

More Weights, More Opportunities

There are 10 World weights and six Olympic weights. There is a concerted effort to use the terminology ‘World weights’ in place of ‘non-Olympic weights.’ Making a World team is difficult and using the term ‘non-Olympic weight’ doesn’t capture the prestige of making a World team.

Back To The Future

Remember the 2017 World Team Trials? It was one of the best domestic wrestling events ever, and it eventually led to a team World Championship for men’s freestyle in Paris.

The 2021 World Team Trials format will be similar to that. The 2018 and 2019 World Team Trials process featured a challenge tournament and two Final X events in three separate locations and on three separate dates.

This year’s World Teams Trials will be contained to one weekend instead of three with the winner representing the United States at the World Championships.

David Taylor vs. J'den Cox at the 2017 World Team Trials was a match for the ages

Good as gold, silver, or bronze

There are only six weights for each discipline (Greco-Roman, men’s, and women’s freestyle) at the Olympic Games. Any American medalist has the right to compete at the 2021 World Championships without opposition if he or she declares his or her intention to compete by August 15.

That means if Kyle Dake wins a medal in the 74-kilogram weight category at the Olympics, he gets to compete at the 2021 Worlds at 74 kg. If he decides to compete at the World weight class right above or below 74 kg (70 kg or 79 kg), he gets an automatic bid to the semifinals of the challenge tournament. 

If Dake wins a medal and chooses not to compete at the World Championships, the winner of the World Team Trials will represent the United States at the World Championships. The finals of the World Team Trials are a best-of-three series. 

This is an interesting scenario that will affect Jordan Burroughs if Burroughs decides to compete at the World Team Trials. If Dake wins a medal at the Olympics and declares, Burroughs will have to move up to 79 kg if he wants a crack at another World team.

Another Olympic twist

Any wrestler who competes for a medal at the Olympic Games gets a spot in the semifinals at the World Team Trials. That means you get a semifinal spot at the World Team Trials if you compete for a bronze medal at the Olympic Games and lose. You'll have to wrestle your way through the entire World Team Trials tournament if you go 0-1 at the Olympics.

The Olympic Trials aren’t over yet (sort of)

Did you qualify for this year’s Olympic Trials? If the answer is yes then you get to compete at the 2021 World Teams Trials.

If you haven’t qualified yet, there are a few ways to punch your ticket. 

The upcoming U.S. National in Coralville, Iowa, April 30-May 2 is a good way to get started. You’ll get to compete at the World Team Trials if you place in the top five. 

If that doesn’t work out, you can qualify through the U23 Nationals, UWW Junior Nationals, and the last chance qualifier in July. Pan-American Games medalists and 2021 NCAA champions can also qualify. 

Winners of the U.S. Nationals do not get automatic bids to the finals of the best-of-three tournament at any weight.

Ah, but there’s a catch

Let’s say Dake declares that he will compete at the World Championships at 74 kg after he wins a medal at the Olympics. That weight class will not be contested at the World Team Trials since the spot is already occupied.

Let's say all six women win medals at the Olympics and all six declare their intentions to compete at the World Championships. That means only the four World weight classes will be contested at the World Teams Trials.

No delaying the inevitable

On rare occasions, a best-of-three series has been delayed due to injury. Not this year. If you don’t make the team at the World Team Trials in September then you won’t get to compete at the World Championships in October.

The wrestle-off between Kyle Dake and Alex Dieringer for the 79-kilogram spot at the 2019 World Championships was postponed.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Picking weights is nearly impossible

It would be fun to make projections on who will wrestle at what weight class at the 2021 World Team Trials, but the results of the Olympic Games will determine who will wrestle at what weight class. J'den Cox, a two-time World champion at 92 kg, has indicated that he wants to own the 97-kilogram weight class. That could be difficult if Snyder medals at the Olympics and declares his intention to compete at the World Championships. Cox would have to move down to 92 kg or skip a shot at the World Championships if that happens.

International weights

Men’s Freestyle

57 kg (Olympic/World)

61 kg (World)

65 kg (Olympic/World)

70 kg (World)

74 kg (Olympic/World)

79 kg (World)

86 kg (Olympic/World)

92 kg (World)

97 kg (Olympic/World)

125 kg (Olympic/World)

Women’s Freestyle

50 kg (Olympic/World)

53 kg (Olympic/World)

55 kg (World)

57 kg (Olympic/World)

59 kg (World)

62 kg (Olympic/World)

65 kg (World)

68 kg (Olympic/World)

72 kg (World)

76 kg (Olympic/World)

Greco-Roman

55 kg (World)

60 kg (Olympic/World)

63 kg (World)

67 kg (Olympic/World)

72 kg (World)

77 kg (Olympic/World)

82 kg (World)

87 kg (Olympic/World)

97 kg (Olympic/World)

130 kg (Olympic/World)