Three-time World/Olympic champion Taha Akgul (Photo courtesy of 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.
7/13/21 - Artur Naifonov (Russia)
7/11/21 - Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia)
7/10/21 - Khadzhimurad Ghadzhiev (Azerbaijan)
7/8/21 - Ali Shabanov (Belarus)
7/7/21 - Gadzhimurad Rashidov (Russia)
7/6/21 - Suleyman Karadeniz (Turkey)
7/5/21 - Frank Chamizo (Italy)
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)
The leader of a new generation of high action, high offense heavyweights, Top-ranked heavyweight Taha Akgul of Turkey, put forth a spectacular run through 2014-2016, winning three straight World/Olympic titles. Still ever elite throughout 2016-2020, title number four has evaded Akgul with the emergence of #2 Geno Petriashvili of Georgia as a three-time world champion. But recovered and peaking, #1 Taha Akgul is a very real threat to win title number four in an absolutely loaded heavyweight field in Tokyo. Today's Olympic profile will look over the career of three-time World/Olympic champion #1 Taha Akgul of Turkey.
The Stats
#1 Taha Akgul (TUR)- 2013 world bronze medalist, 2x World champion (‘14 & ‘15), 2016 Olympic champion, 2x world runner-up (‘17,'19), 7x European champion (‘12,'13,'14,'17,'18,'19, ‘21), 2015 European Games champion, 6x Yasar Dogu champion (‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16, ‘19), 2012 Ziolkowski runner-up, 2010 Junior world runner-up, 2019 Yarygin runner-up.
Key Wins: #2 Geno Petriashvili ( 2013 Yasar Dogu, 2013 Moscow lights tournament, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 European championships), Bilyal Makhov (2015 world championships), #4 Sergey Kozyrev (2021 European championships finals), #7 Nick Gwiazdowski (2017 world championships, 2019 Yasar Dogu finals), #10 Dzianis Khramiankov (2021 European championships), Khomeil Ghasemi (2014 world finals, 2016 Olympic finals), Khadzhimurat Gatsalov (2014 Yasar Dogu), Jamaladdin Magomedov (2013 European Championships, 2013 world championships repechage, 2011 Baku GGP, 2013 Yasar Dogu, 2015 world finals, 2017 European championships, 2018 European championships), Alan Zasieiev (2013 European championships), Levan Berianidze (2016 Olympics), Ibragim Saidov ( 2013 University World Games, 2016 Olympics), Bakhtiar Akhmedov (2012 European championships), Parviz Hadi (2012 University world championships, 2013 University World Games), Fatih Cakiroglu (2011 Baku Golden Grand Prix finals), Fardin Masoumi Valadi (2012 Yasar Dogu), Alexei Shemarov (2014 world championships, 2015 European Games), Tervel Dlagnev (2013 world championships bronze medal match, 2014 world championships quarterfinals), Anzor Khizriev (2019 European championships), Muradin Kushkov (2018 European championships), Zhiwei Deng (2013 University World Games, 2019 world championships), Khasanboy Rakhimov (UZB).
Key Losses: #2 Geno Petriashvili (2016 European championships, 2017 world finals, 2019 world finals), Fatih Cakiroglu (2011 Yasar Dogu, 2010 Mediterranean championships), Tervel Dlagnev (2012 Ziolkowski finals), Alan Zasieiev (2013 world championships), Muradin Kushkov (2010 Junior world finals), #12 Anzor Khizriev (2019 Yarygin finals), Parviz Hadi (2018 world championships quarterfinals), Bilyal Makhov (2012 Olympics), Daniel Ligeti (2011 FILA test tournament).
2010-2013
Beginning his career at the 2010 Mediterranean championships, Akgul would finish as runner-up to European championships runner-up Fatih Cakiroglu. Only 20 years at the time, Akgul would take 5th at the Junior Championships and follow it up with a runner-up finish at the Junior World Championships with victories over Junior European champion Giorgi Sakandelidze (QAT) and Jeremy Johnson (USA) before a finals loss to Muradin Kushkov (UKR).
Having now finished his Junior eligibility in 2011 at 21 years old, Akgul began his full-time Senior campaign with a bronze medal finish at the Yasar Dogu, again losing out to countryman Cakiroglu. The Baku Golden Grand Prix would be Akgul's first significant breakthrough at the Senior level, winning gold over the likes of 2009 96 KG Junior World runner-up Jamaladdin Magomedov (AZE) and finally beating Cakiroglu. Cakiroglu would be the one sent to the Senior World Championships instead of Akgul, so to finish 2011, he competed at the FILA test tournament where he took bronze behind European championships bronze medalist Daniel Ligeti (HUN).
2012 began with Akgul winning his first Yasar Dogu title over 2009 world runner-up Fardin Masoumi Valadi (IRI). Akgul really announced himself as a force with his first European title. Avenging his loss from 2011 to Ligeti, Akgul also beat 2008 Olympic champion, 2x Russian Nationals champion Bakhtiar Akhmedov (RUS) on his way to the finals. Akgul followed up his first European title by qualifying Turkey for the Olympics by making the finals of the European Olympic qualifier. A final warm-up at the Ziolkowski memorial tournament in Poland saw Akgul lose to 2009 world bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (USA). Akgul's Olympic run began with a victory over Oleksandr Khotsianivski of Ukraine, but in his next match, the European champion saw his title aspirations dashed when he was eliminated by three-time world champion Bilyal Makhov (RUS). Completing the year at the University World championships, Akgul won gold over Asian champion Parviz Hadi of Iran.
2013 would begin the dominance of Akgul as he won the Yasar Dogu over 2007 96 KG world bronze medalist Kurban Kurbanov (UZB), 2011 world bronze medalist Jamaladdin Magomedov (AZE), and #2 Geno Petriashvili (GEO). An undefeated run at the World Cup springboarded Akgul into a second European title with wins over Alan Zasieiev (UKR) and Magomedov. The University World Games would be Akgul's next conquest and gold came by way of victories over Oleksandr Khotsianivski (UKR), Ibragim Saidov (BLR), Hadi, and Zhiwei Deng (CHN). Going into his first world championships, Akgul was seen as a front runner for gold, but a loss to European runner-up Zasieiev in the second round knocked Akgul out of contention. With Zasieiev making the finals, Akgul was pulled back into repechage and after wins over Florian Temengil (PLW) and Magomedov qualified for the bronze medal match and revenge against Dlagnev. Winning world bronze over Dlagnev, Akgul concluded his year with a 4-0 run at the Moscow Lights tournament, avenging his loss from the World championships to Zasieiev and world bronze medalist #2 Geno Petriashvili of Georgia with a 10-1 win.
2014-2016
A third Yasar Dogu title would start off Akgul's 2014 campaign and a third European title, both coming by way over #8 Alan Khugaev of Russia put Akgul in position as the favorite for his first world title. Competing in Tashkent, Akgul's first major test of the World Championships would come in the quarterfinals against old rival Dlagnev of the United States. Two of the most athletic heavyweights in the world, with excellent low leg attacks and defense, Akgul and Dlagnev were the two best men in the bracket that day and it would be Akgul who'd repeat his triumph from the 2013 world bronze medal match for a 4-2 win and a spot in the semifinals. 2011 world champion Alexei Shemarov of Belarus was no match for Akgul as the Turk's crisp leg attacks dismantled the Belarusian 8-1 and punched Akgul through to the world finals. Against 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Khomeil Ghasemi of Iran, Akgul was against a mountain of a man who'd upset the returning world champion Khadzhimurat Gatsalov of Russia 5-4 to make the semis. Ghasemi, well known for his punishing heavy hands and granite hips, was a tall task for Akgul, but the Iranian lacked Akgul's offense and the Turk was able to pull off a tight 4-3 win for his first world title. After having been the contender for so long, a promise yet fulfilled, Akgul had done it and won the gold that he was destined for.
Akgul's fourth Yasar Dogu title to start off 2015 would be his most impressive. Khadzhimurat Gatsalov of Russia was a returning world bronze medalist and six-time World/Olympic champion was one of the best upperweights of the 21st century and while his career was coming to an end, his 2013 heavyweight world title showed he was still very much a threat. Gatsalov's legacy was an afterthought, not even a thought to Akgul the way he rag-dolled the powerful North-Ossetian 10-0 in the opening round of the Yasar Dogu. Daulet Shahbanbay (KAZ) and #13 Aiaal Lazarev (KGZ) would fall 12-1 and 10-0 to Akgul as he outscored his competition 32-1 for gold.
The European Games were another display of how far ahead Akgul had pulled himself from the rest of the field. 2011 world bronze medalist Magomedov was Akgul's closest match in the field, falling 5-2 to the Turk. Robert Baran (POL) and Russian Nationals bronze medalist Soslan Gagloev (SVK) would both be pinned by Akgul and 2011 world champion Alexei Shemarov (BLR) would be dismantled 6-0 for the Turkish giant's 5th European championships/games title.
Taha Akgul's second world title was one defined by dominance. Akgul opened with a 10-0 tech fall of Jose Cuba of Spain, a 4-2 over 2010 world bronze medalist Levan Berianidze (ARM) and a 6-1 win over Daulet Shahbanbay (KAZ). 20-3 is good but Cuba, Berianidze, and Shahbanbay aren't the type of murderer's row of a bracket to beat that puts someone down in the history books. No, Akgul's next match would do that. Bilyal Makhov had been one of heavyweight's most imposing figures from 2008-2012, winning world gold in 2007, 2009, and 2010 along with world silver in 2011 and Olympic bronze in 2012. Makhov was an absolute giant with punishing underhooks and body locks, who broke heavyweight's elites and was a force to be reckoned with. Makhov was supposed to be it, the return to glory, Russia's real chance at taking it to Akgul. Akgul obliterated the imposing Russian in 54 seconds for a 10-0 tech fall and his second world final. Old rival Magomedov of Azerbaijan had upset #2 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) to make the finals, but Akgul was on a different level and showed it by tech falling Magomedov one minute and two seconds into the match. His two most significant tests of the whole tournament in Makhov and Magomedov, taken out in a combined one minute and fifty-seven seconds. Akgul was on another level.
2016 began as had the past four years had with another Yasar Dogu title, this time scoring gold over Tony Nelson of the United States with a 10-0 tech fall for Yasar Dogu title number five. Akgul would compete at the European championships and be matched up against two-time world bronze medalist #2 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) in the opening round. Akgul had already taken two wins over Petriashvili back from 2013, but the Georgian had made major strides since then. A strong opening period for Akgul put him up 4-0 at the end of the first, but Petriashvili roared back and, in a sign of their future rivalry, would take away an 8-8 criteria win over the reigning two-time world champion. Akgul defaulted out of the tournament while Petriashvili went on to win gold over Robert Baran of Poland. Slated to compete at the World Cup, Akgul forfeited all of his matches and questions regarding his readiness for his third World/Olympic title began to rise.
A chance at redemption and ascension to the elite of the heavyweight class awaited Akgul at the Olympic Games in Rio. Akgul began his campaign for gold with back-to-back tech falls over Jargalsaikhan Chuluunbat (MGL) and Ibragim Saidov (BLR) before facing off against Levan Berianidze (ARM) in the semifinals, beating the Armenian 8-1 to make the finals. Instead of a chance at revenge from the European championships against #2 Geno Petriashvili of Georgia, Akgul would see an old foe in Khomeil Ghasemi (IRI) who'd upset Petriashvili and 2014 world bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (USA) to make the finals. The Iranian powerhouse Ghasemi stopped all of Akgul's takedowns in the finals, and it would be Akgul's gas tank and pressure would shine for him, banking on two shot-clock violations and a step out point to win Olympic gold 3-1.
2017-2021
Now a three-time World/Olympic champion, Taha Akgul had cemented himself as one of the all-time best heavyweights. Off the high of his incredible 2012-2016 quad, Akgul began 2017 looking for his fifth European championships title. Title number five was a victory lap for Akgul as he went 4-0 to capture gold and tech falled #2 Geno Petriashvili (GEO) 14-4 in the quarterfinals to avenge his loss from the 2016 European championships.
32-2 was the difference between Akgul and his first three opponents at the World Championships on his way to his fourth finals appearance. Zolboo Natsagsuren (MGL), Nam Koung-Jin (KOR) and #7 Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) all fell as Akgul made it clear this was his weight. The only man left in his way was his old rival Petriashvili. Petriashvili was Akgul's only loss in the past three years and wanted to prove definitively that the Georgian would not take his crown. Sure he'd beaten him in early season or end of the year tournaments, but the world championships were a totally different beast altogether, where legends are made and dreams crushed.
The match that Akgul and Petriashvili put on in the world finals would be one for the ages. Akgul raced out to a 4-0 lead to end the first, taking over a slow-starting Petriashvili and looking well on his way to repeating his thrashing of the Georgian from the European championships. But the second period saw the tides start to turn and back-to-back takedowns from Petriashvili tied the score 4-4 with the Georgian leading on criteria. Akgul struck back, Petriashvili matched and the score was now tied 8-8, with Akgul leading now with less than 30 seconds left in the match. At the 10 second mark and diving in on a shot with victory all but secured for Akgul, Petriashvili would be able to muster an incredible final effort and expose Akgul for two and stop the Turk's quest for title number four with a 10-8 upset win.
The beginning of 2018 saw Akgul compete at the Cerro Pellado memorial and win gold over Ben Durbin of the United States. The European Championships came for Akgul and he'd get his chance at revenge against Petriashvili and to win title number six as Petriashvili was on the side of the bracket. Making his way through the finals, Akgul beat 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Ibragim Saidov (BLR), 2015 world runner-up Magomedov and avenge his 2010 Junior world finals loss to Yarygin champion Muradin Kushkov (RUS) in the semifinals. Both men changed from their world finals match the year before; neither man was able to clearly pull away from the other it would be #1 Taha Akgul coming away with a 2-1 victory over the returning world champion Petriashvili for European title #6.
As the favorite to reclaim his heavyweight throne and win his prestigious fourth World/Olympic title, Akgul made the world quarterfinals, beating Oleksandr Khotsianivski (UKR) and Nick Matuhin (GER) by a combined score of 16-0. Parviz Hadi of Iran was a contender but had two prior losses to Akgul and it was believed he'd be another stepping stone on Akgul's path to title number four. In the biggest upset of the world championships, it would be Hadi who'd walk away with the 3-2 win over Akgul. Akgul would not get any chance of redemption through repechage as Hadi would fall to returning world champion Petriashvili 13-6 in the semifinals.
Beginning 2019 at the Yarygin, Akgul blew through the competition 31-1 with victories over returning world runner-up Zhiwei Deng (CHN), Yudenny Alpajon Estevez (CUB), and #5 Zelimkhan Khizriev (RUS). In the finals, Akgul faced off against #12 Anzor Khizriev (RUS), coming off his second consecutive fifth-place finish at the World Championships. In what was supposed to be a lay-up for Akgul, Khizriev proved himself one not to be doubted as he countered the Turk's shots throughout the match with masterful exposures to win 7-4.
Coming off his loss at the Yarygin, Akgul was a man possessed at the European Championships. With title number seven on the line, Akgul wasn't given anyone any second chances and it showed. 26-2 was the difference between Akgul and his competition through the finals, and #12 Anzor Khizriev (RUS), who'd felled the Turkish giant, was knocked down 8-1. Now a two-time world champion, Petriashvili was now seen in position to challenge Akgul. Sure, Akgul had always beaten him in early or late season tournaments and beaten him the last two years at the European Championships, but the levels Petriashvili jumped in winning two back-to-back world titles would be sure to change things. The only thing that would change would be the score from the year prior's finals, this time a 7-0 throttling for Akgul over the Georgian.
The final world championships of the 2016-2020 quad and the chance to win title number four and qualify for his third Olympics, there was a lot on the line for Akgul. Alexander Romanov (ROU), Khasanboy Rakhimov (UZB) and Deng all gave Akgul a strong fight and with only a 16-0 difference across three matches going into the finals, Akgul would have to turn it on if he wanted to beat Petriashvili and win title number four. With the world title on the line and title #3 for Petriashvili and #4 for Akgul, the two men went to war. Like their matches of the past, Akgul would race out to an early lead, but the pressure of Petriashvili would wear on and it would be the Georgian who would finish the 2016-2020 quad as three-time World champion with a 6-6 victory over Akgul.
Akgul would be out of competition for the next year and a half due to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with recovering from surgery for past injuries. In returning in 2021, Akgul made an immediate statement that he hadn't lost a step and, if anything, was better than he'd ever been. In the opening round, he avenged his 2019 world final loss to Petriashvili with a 6-1 win. Kamil Kosciolek (POL) and #10 Dzianis Khramiankov (BLR) and #4 Sergey Kozyrev (RUS) would all fall to Akgul as the powerful Turk won European title #8 and reclaimed his spot on top of the heavyweight rankings.
The elusive fourth World/Olympic title evaded #1 Taha Akgul all of 2016-2020 and a loaded field in Tokyo will give him his greatest test of his career. Against the dangerous three-time world champion #2 Geno Petriashvili (GEO), who's proven time and time again to peak for the big show plus the emergence of young standouts #3 Amir Zare (IRI, #4 Sergey Kozyrev (RUS), and #6 Gable Steveson (USA) the path to number four will push Akgul more than ever. But healthier than ever and turning away the likes of Petriashvili and Kozyrev at the European championships has me confident that Akgul will be ready to win World/Olympic gold number four.
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