Frank Chamizo at the 2017 World Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)As of today, we under 50 days from the start of wrestling at the Olympic Games. Over the next 50 days, we'll bring you one profile per day of a decorated international contender. Make sure you get to know the wrestlers that Team USA will compete against in Tokyo.
7/3/21 - Yui Susaki (Japan)
7/1/21 - Amir Zare (Iran)
6/28/21 - Zavur Uguev (Russia)
6/27/21 - Zhan Beleniuk (Ukraine)
6/26/21 - Sergey Kozyrev (Russia)
6/24/21 - Kenchiro Fumita (Japan)
6/23/21 - Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (Belarus)
6/22/21 - Erica Wiebe (Canada)
6/21/21 - Myles Amine (San Marino)
6/20/21 - Sofia Mattsson (Sweden)
6/19/21 - Hassan Yazdani Charati (Iran)
6/18/21 - Tamas Lorincz (Hungary)
6/17/21 - Takuro Otoguro (Japan)
6/16/21 - Elizbar Odikadze (Georgia)
6/15/21 - Koumba Larroque (France)
6/14/21 - Haji Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
6/13/21 - Ningning Rong (China)
6/12/21 - Bajrang Punia (India)
6/11/21 - Frank Staebler (Germany)
6/10/21 - Geno Petriashvili (Georgia)
A captivating entertainer who has backed up his talk more than anyone in the world, #5 Frank Chamizo of Italy has done it all going into his second Olympics. World medals at four weight classes starting at 55 KG to 74 KG, all throughout the time, Chamizo has turned heads for his incredible combination of athleticism, match savvy, and ridiculous counters that led him with wins over World/Olympic champions Togrul Asgarov, Soslan Ramonov and Jordan Burroughs alongside so many other credentialed competitors. Today's Olympic profile will take a look at the career of two-time world champion #5 Frank Chamizo of Italy.
The Stats
#5 Frank Chamizo (ITA)- 2010 55 KG world bronze medalist, 2015 65 KG world champion, 2016 65 KG Olympic bronze medalist, 2017 70 KG world champion, 2019 74 KG world runner-up, 2020 74 KG Individual World cup runner-up, Four-time European champion (‘16, ‘17, ‘19, ‘20), Two-time 74 KG European bronze medalist (‘18, ‘21) 2015 65 KG European Games runner-up, 2017 70 KG Ali Aliyev champ, 2018 Yasar Dogu champ, 2018 74 KG world 5th, 2019 world runner-up, 2021 Matteo Pellicone champion
Key Wins: #8 Jordan Burroughs (2018 Yasar Dogu finals, 2021 74 KG Matteo Pellicone finals), #1 (70) Israil Kasumov (2018 74 KG Korkin semis), #3 Magomedkhabib Kadiamagomedov (2018 Dan Kolov), Soslan Ramonov (2015 65 KG Ziolkowski), #1 (79) Akhsarbek Gulaev (2018 74 KG International Ukrainian tournament, 2018 74 KG European Championships bronze medal match), #10 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov(2017 70 KG Ali Aliyev finals, 2020 74 KG European championships finals), Togrul Asgarov(2015 65 KG worlds), Ikhityor Novruzov(2015 65 KG worlds finals, 2014 Ali Aliyev quarterfinals, 2017 70 KG worlds), #7 (70) James Green (2017 70 KG world finals), #14 Khetag Tsabolov (2018 European Championships quarterfinals), #7 Avtandil Kentchadze (2018 European Championships first round match, 2021 European championships), #5 (79) Akhmed Usmanov (2018 74 KG Korkin qualification round), #13 Soner Demirtas (2020 74 KG European championships opening round), Khadzhimurad Gadzhiev ( 2019 74 KG European championships, 2020 74 KG European championships), #9 Timur Bizhoev (2019 74 KG European championships), Zelimkhan Khadjiev (2019 74 KG European finals, 2019 74 KG world championships)
Key losses: #1 Zaurbek Sidakov (2017 70 KG Alans tournament, 2018 74 KG world semifinals), #2 Kyle Dake (2020 79 KG Flo Pro match), #4 Taimuraz Salkazanov (2021 74 KG European championships), #6 Razambek Zhamalov (2020 74 KG Individual World Cup finals), #8 Jordan Burroughs (2018 Beat the Streets, 2018 74 KG world bronze medal match, 2019 Dan Kolov), Soslan Ramonov (2016 Medved finals), Togrul Asgarov (2015 65 KG Euro games finals, 2016 65 KG Olympic semifinals), #7 (70) James Green (2015 70 KG Grand Prix of Spain finals match), #13 Soner Demirtas (2018 European Championships semifinals match), #12 Nikita Suchkov (2018 74 KG Korkin finals), Victor Lebedev (2010 55 KG world championships, 2011 55 KG world championships), Mihran Jaburyan (2011 55 KG world championships)
2010-2014
Chamizo's first World Championships appearance would end in disappointment. In the second round of Junior World's, he would lose to eventual World bronze medalist Rasul Mashezov of Russia, while representing Cuba. Chamizo's Senior world championships debut would fare much better as he would make the semifinals and face off against reigning world champion Viktor Lebedev of Russia. In a tightly contested semifinal bout, Chamizo would fall 1-0, 1-0 to the reigning world champion Lebedev. Going on to win bronze in a 1-0, 2-3, 5-1 match against Kim Hyo Sub of Korea, Chamizo would emerge from the world championships at 18 years old as one of the top 55 kilogram wrestlers in the world.
An older, more experienced Chamizo would meet again with Lebedev, this time in the 2011 World Championships quarterfinals. Even with his experience gained, Chamizo could not stop the now 2x reigning world champion Lebedev and lost a 0-1, 1-1 match to fall into repechage. Repechage would see Chamizo fare no better as he was upset by Mihran Jaburyan of Armenia by a 3-7,7-0, 3-2 score and failed to place at the world championships.
After a two-year gap in competition and up two weights, Chamizo would return to compete for Italy at 66 kilograms. A runner-up finish at the Grand Prix of Spain to Ruslan Dibirgadzhiev of Azerbaijan was Chamizo's first significant finish competing for Italy. Chamizo's performance at the Ziolkowski was even less fruitful as he took fifth after losses to Agaguseynov Mustafaev (AZE) and #11 (65) Ilyas Bekbulatov (UZB). Chamizo's 2014 would be a significant turnaround in 2014, winning the Yasar Dogu and Grand Prix of Spain with wins over 2x world medalist Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (MGL), Magomed Muslimov (AZE), and Aaron Pico (USA) with a bronze at the Ali Aliyev and a loss to returning world champion Devid Safaryan (ARM) at the City of Sassari.
2015-2017
Now being able to officially compete for Italy at continental and world championships, Chamizo would be a significant factor to earn his second world bronze medal, now at 65 kilograms. Starting his year off in Belarus at the Medved, Chamizo would face off against 2013 World bronze medalist and 2016 World champion Magomed Kurbanaliev of Russia. Down 5-0 in the second period, Chamizo would rally back with a takedown to open, and with 30 seconds remaining in the match, to tighten things up to a 5-3 score. Being held off by a fading Kurbanaliev, Chamizo would lose his quarterfinal match 5-3 and fall to repechage. Facing him would be two-time world bronze medalist Mandakhnaran Ganzorig of Mongolia, 9-3.
A U-23 European title and runner-up finishes at the European Games and the Grand Prix of Spain bumped up to 70 kilograms, Chamizo had garnered much praise for his wins over talents of the weight like Zurab Iakobishvili and Avtandil Kentchadze of Georgia, Magomed Muslimov of Azerbaijan, and Mustafa Kaya of Turkey but fallen short against 2012 60 KG champion Togrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan and James Green of the United States in the European Games and Grand Prix of Spain finals respectively.
In what was supposed to be a tune-up tournament before the world championships, Chamizo would face returning world champion Soslan Ramonov of Russia in his first match at the Ziolkowski Memorial in Poland. A brilliant Chamizo held off a late charge from the reigning world champ to take a 4-3 victory and would go on to win the Ziolkowski returning University World runner-up George Bucur of Romania in the finals.
Coming into the world championships with the momentum that he had, Chamizo was one of the favorites to win in what was an absolutely stacked field. An indication of that was the fact that Chamizo would square up against the reigning European Games runner-up at 70 kilograms, a 2010 bronze medalist at Russian Nationals, Magomedmurad Gadzhiev of Poland. A late go behind into a double leg for Chamizo was able to win him the close match against Gadzhiev, and gave him the momentum to defeat 2012 Olympic champion Togrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan, returning world runner-up Sayed Ahmad Mohammadi of Iran, and surprise finalist Ikhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan who had upset reigning world champion Soslan Ramonov of Russia by pin in the semis.
His first competition in 2016 after a brilliant World Championships performance that culminated in gold with a 4-3 win over Ikhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan, Chamizo would reach the finals of the Medved after wins over Logan Stieber of the US and 2001 World bronze medalist for Russia Alexander Kontoev (BLR). In the finals, he would go against World bronze medalist Soslan Ramonov of Russia. Showing no signs of lapse in performance that he had at world's, Ramonov took the match to Chamizo and came away with an impressive 7-7 win over the reigning world champion.
Bronze at the Rio Olympics and coming off a lackluster showing in Bundesliga that saw him lose by pin to Alejandro Valdes Tobier of Cuba and to Kakhaber Khubezhty, Chamizo had a lot to prove making the move up to 70 kilograms. His first competition of 2017 the year would be in April at the Dan Kolov, where he made the Round of 16 to face off against 2015 world champion Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov of Russia. Chamizo was taken apart and pinned by Gazimagomedov and would default out of the tournament.
Chamizo's run to his second European title saw him start out his tournament out with yet another win over Ruslan Dibirgadzhiev of Azerbaijan and it would not be until the finals against 2015 European Games runner-up Magomedmurad Gadzhiev of Poland would he face another Dagestani transfer. In a match against two wrestlers with the defensive prowess the likes of Chamizo and Gadzhiev, it was the slick offense of Chamizo that would earn him the 4-3 win and his second Senior European title.
The Ali Aliyev was set up to have a finals that would pit Gazimagomedov and Chamizo against each other and have serious implications going into the World Championships. Both men would hold their part of the bargain; Chamizo beating Murad Kuramagomedov and Zaurbek Sidakov of Russia, and avenging his 2015 Medved loss to Mandakhnaran Ganzorig of Mongolia; Gazimagomedov's path to the finals was built upon wins over Murtuz Muslimov, Renat Ramazanov, and Shamil Magomedov all of Russia. The finals match between the two was tightly contested with Gazimagomedov being able to test Chamizo with his pressure and knee pull single, but it would ultimately be the scrambling of Chamizo that would win the day with a big 8-4 win defined by a huge four-pointer off a reverse lift scored in a scramble against Gazimagomedov. Chamizo was also able to notch an injury default win over 2015 Junior world bronze medalist and future 2x 74 KG world champion Zaurbek Sidakov of Russia.
Winning world's in dominant fashion with victories over five past World/Olympic medalists, Chamizo entered the Alans with the intent to make the finals and get the chance to avenge past losses to Soslan Ramonov and Magomed Kurbanaliev. So close to his second chance after wins over Dagestani Magomed Muslimov of Azerbaijan and Konstantine Khabalashvili of Georgia, Chamizo would face off against Zaurbek Sidakov in the semifinals. Sidakov wouldn't let Chamizo off the hook for a single second of the match, capitalizing off his strong underhook and scoring on the edge to upset the reigning two-time world champion in a 9-6 win. Chamizo forfeited out of the tournament and ended up taking 5th.
2018-2021
A dominating world title run at 70 kilograms over five returning World/Olympic medalists, made Chamizo the hottest commodity at 74 kilograms in 2018, even with his upset loss to Zaurbek Sidakov at the end of 2017. And Chamizo held up his end of the deal, starting the year off with two titles at the International Ukrainian Tournament and at the Dan Kolov with a signature win over 2017 70 KG Russian national champion #3 Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (BLR) along the way.
A third Senior European title for Chamizo would see him face his most formidable challenge yet in a loaded field with the returning world runner-up, 2014 70 KG world champ Khetik Tsabolov of Russia, returning European champion and two-time World/Olympic bronze medalist Soner Demirtas of Turkey, returning U-23 world runner-up Akhsarbek Gulaev of Slovakia, and returning U-23 European champion Avtandil Kentchadze of Georgia. A comfortable 9-4 opening win over Kentchadze set up a colossal quarterfinal matchup against the reigning world runner-up Tsabolov. In a stunning turn of events, Chamizo dominated the entire match and was able to step over an extended Tsabolov shot for the fall to make the semis. An upset 4-3 semifinal loss that saw him give up a stepout with less than 10 seconds left in the match against Soner Demirtas of Turkey, Chamizo would finish with bronze by way of a 10-0 technical superiority win over #1 (79) Akhsarbek Gulaev of Slovakia.
Titles at the Yasar Dogu and at The Mediterranean Games gave Chamizo strong momentum going into world's, especially with his win over 5x World/Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs of the United States in the Yasar Dogu finals. All that he had left was to take gold at the Dmitri Korkin tournament in Yakutsk, Russia, before arriving in Budapest to do the same. An opening win against 2020 79 KG Individual World Cup champion #5 (79) Akhmed Usmanov of Russia began his tournament and his semifinal against three-time national runner-up Israil Kasumov of Russia would define it. An early four-point throw from Kasumov set the tone for the entire match as Kasumov and Chamizo fought tooth and nail against each other, with Chamizo eventually walking away with a 14-11 win. Perhaps tired from the shootout he had with Kasumov or underestimating two-time nationals bronze medalist Nikita Suchkov of Russia or some combination of both, Chamizo would be defeated in the finals by Suchkov 5-3 of a go behind off a stuffed shot.
Emerging from what was a weak top half bracket compared to the monster he had run through the year prior at 70 kilograms, Chamizo would have a surging Zaurbek Sidakov in the semifinals for their rubber match, fresh off Sidakov's stunning upset win over returning 5x World/Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs in the quarterfinals. Sidakov was not to be denied by Chamizo, and even though he would stifle Sidakov's early attacks, the mat IQ and pressure of Sidakov would prove again to be Chamizo's undoing as he fell 3-2. Chamizo's bronze medal fight against Burroughs didn't fare much better, as while Chamizo was able to keep Burroughs extended early on his shots and out scramble him, the pressure and single legs of Burroughs would prove to be too much for Chamizo and he would take fifth with a 4-4 loss.
2019 began with an early win over Azamat Nurikov of Belarus that was then followed by a lopsided loss to Jordan Burroughs and a win over Alipasha Umarpashaev (BUL), left Chamizo with a bronze medal to start the year at the Dan Kolov. Chamizo's early struggles would have had to be corrected if he was going to win his third Senior-level European title. Standing in his way were three Russians, but only one competing for the red, white, and blue in the form of Timur Bizhoev, who had finished 5th at the Yarygin but had won a qualifying match in training camp against returning national runner-up Khetik Tsabolov. The other Russians were Dagestani Khadzhimurad Gadzhiev competing for Azerbaijan and Chechen Zelimkhan Khadjiev competing for France. Bizhoev was Chamizo's stiffest competition by far, as he was coming off a runner-up finish at U-23 world's and a very impressive run at the Alans where he beat reigning world silver medalist Avtandil Kentchadze of Georgia in the finals to avenge his U-23 world finals loss.
Wrestling against the stingy Bizhoev, Chamizo's usually high octane offense was muted and he was only able to win a 3-0 win in the Round of 16. Facing Khadzhimurad Gadzhiev in the semis, Chamizo walked away with a 6-2 victory over the 2018 Junior world champion. The finals saw him take on the returning European runner-up, 2016 Olympian Zelimkhan Khadjiev of France. Running up a dominant 6-0 first period against the Chechen Frenchman, Chamizo added a final second-period takedown to ice a dominant 8-0 victory and take his third Senior European title.
Chamizo's second meeting against Khetik Tsabolov would go much different than their first at the 2018 European championships, as the 2017 world runner-up for Russia was much better prepared for their semifinal match at the City of Sassari tournament. Owning a 4-3 lead over Chamizo off two first-period takedowns, Chamizo scored a slick low single with less than a minute left in the match to take a 5-4 win over the Russian.
Chamizo's second world championships at 74 kilograms would fare better as in his sophomore effort, he was able to best Zelimkhan Khadjiev 4-1 in the semis to matchup against returning world champion Zaurbek Sidakov of Russia. Sidakov was still far too much for Chamizo to handle, as he completely controlled a 5-2 match to take home his second world title and leave Chamizo with his first world silver medal.
In a season that was drastically shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic virus, Chamizo competed a total of three times in 2020: European championships, the Individual World Cup, and a showcase match against two-time 79 KG world champion #2 Kyle Dake (USA). Chamizo's European championships run began with a 6-4 win in a rematch two years in the making against 3x European champion #13 Soner Demirtas (TUR) after a semifinal loss from the 2018 European championships. A fellow two-time world champion, #10 Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov, had cemented himself as the #2 in Russia behind reigning two-time world champion #1 Zaurbek Sidakov after an exceptional Yarygin run with wins over #13 Khetag Tsabolov and #6 Razambek Zhamalov. Chamizo clutch as ever wasn't fazed by the run of Gazimagomedov was able to negate the heavy hand fighting of the Russian for a 4-3 win and his fourth European title. As a warm-up for the Individual World Cup, Chamizo was booked in a marquee matchup opposite two-time 79 KG world champion #2 Kyle Dake of the United States. Dake's dominance would be felt by Chamizo and the talented Italian would lose 4-3. Chamizo's cruised through to the finals of the Individual World Cup, where he faced Russian phenom Razambek Zhamalov. A takedown in the first for Chamizo set the pace for the match, but Zhamalov continued to press forward and was able to get in on a bodylock with 10 seconds left and score the match winning takedown and the 3-2 win, 4-2 after a Chamizo challenge.
2021 began on Chamizo's home turf of Italy at the The Matteo Pellicone, where he'd get his shot at revenge against 5x World/Olympic champion #8 Jordan Burroughs (USA). A controversial score on the edge for Chamizo would turn the tide of the match and seal a 3-2 win.
A fifth European championships title was on the verge for Chamizo in April in a loaded field with world medalists Razambek Zhamalov, Avtandil Kentchadze, Taimuraz Salkazanov and Khetag Tsabolov. In the round of 16, Chamizo was stunned by two-time World medalist Taimuraz Salkazanov of Slovakia 6-2. Pushed into the repechage after Salkazanov's wins over Avtandil Kentchadze and Razambek Zhamalov put him into the finals, Chamizo would have to fight and claw his way back to medal. Kentchadze would be a smooth 8-2 win for Chamizo to push him in a massive rematch of the Individual World Cup against Razambek Zhamalov (RUS) loomed. A visually diminished Zhamalov fought hard against Chamizo, but Chamizo prevailed 5-1 for bronze.
As a final warm-up before Tokyo, Chamizo breezed past continental medalists Daniyar Kaisanov of Kazakhstan and Semen Radulov of Ukraine to make the finals of the Ziolkowski. Forfeiting out in the finals to 2016 70 KG world bronze medalist Mostafa Hosseinkhani (IRI), Chamizo locked up the #1 seed for the Olympics. As one of the most electrifying athletes in all of wrestling, Chamizo has carved out a spot for himself as one of the best 74 KG athletes in the past two decades. In a loaded field in Tokyo with two other 2x world champions in #1 Zaurbek Sidkaov (RUS) and #2 Kyle Dake (USA), Chamizo has the chance to truly cement himself as the best 74 KG of this generation.
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