Ildar Hafizov

Ildar Shavkatovich[1] Hafizov (Russian: Ильдар Шавкатович Хафизов; Tatar: Илдар Шәүкәт улы Хәфиз; born 30 January 1988) is an Uzbekistani-American Greco-Roman wrestler of Tatar heritage,[2] who competes in the featherweight category (60 kg).[3] 2011 Asian and 2021 Pan American Championships runner-up, 2019 Pan American Games bronze medalist.

Ildar Hafizov
Ильдар Хафизов
Hafizov in 2015
Personal information
Full nameIldar Shavkatovich Hafizov
NationalityAmerican
Uzbekistani
Born (1988-01-30) 30 January 1988
Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union
Height1.66 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Weight59 kg (130 lb)
Sport
SportWrestling
StyleGreco-Roman wrestling
ClubU.S Army WCAP
CoachRavil Biktikov
Spenser Mango[1]
Medal record
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place2019 Lima60 kg
Pan American Championships
Silver medal – second place2021 Guatemala City60 kg
USA Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Las Vegas 59 kg
Vantaa Cup
Gold medal – first place2015 Vantaa59 kg
Thor Masters
Gold medal – first place2017 Nykøbing Falster59 kg
Representing  Uzbekistan
Asian Championships
Silver medal – second place2011 Tashkent55 kg
Bronze medal – third place2007 Bishkek55 kg

Background

Hafizov was born in Tashkent, Soviet Union to Tatar family.[2] He started wrestling at the age of ten.

Sport Career

Hafizov competed for the Uzbek wrestling squad in the men's 55 kg class at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He lost the first prelims match to Russia's Nazyr Mankiev, who was able to score three points each in two straight periods, leaving Hafizov with a single point.[4] Because his opponent advanced further into the final match, Hafizov offered another shot for the bronze medal by entering the repechage bouts. He was defeated by Serbia's Kristijan Fris in the first round, with a technical score of 1–5.[5] Before his change of domicile to the United States in 2014, Hafizov represented his native Uzbekistan and has picked up the bronze medal at the 2007 Asian Wrestling Championships and the silver medal in his respective division at the 2011 Asian Wrestling Championships, coincidentally in his home city Tashkent, losing out to Kyrgyzstan's Arsen Eraliev. In May 2015, Hafizov enlisted in the United States Army. At the 2017 U.S. Open Championships, he won a gold medal at 59 kg categories. At the 2019 Pan American Games Hafizov earned a bronze medal at 60 kg. He has qualified to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[6] In 2021, he won a silver medal at the Pan American Championships.

Hafizov is a 4x World team member (2017, 2019 2022 and 2023).

Personal life

He is of Tatar ethnicity.[2]

Ildar has two daughters, his wife Dina Hafizova is a former freestyle wrestler.[1]

He is currently a sergeant of the U.S. army. Along with serving as a motor vehicle operator within the U.S. Army, he is also a member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.[7]

References
  1. "Army wrestlers have bigger goals after qualifying for Tokyo Olympics". army.mil. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  2. "Чемпион США Ильдар Хафизов: «Макгрегор пафосный. Я хотел, чтобы Хабиб заткнул ему рот»". tnv.ru. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  3. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ildar Hafizov". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  4. "Men's Greco-Roman 55kg (121 lbs) Qualification Official". NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  5. "Men's Greco-Roman 55kg (121 lbs) – Repechage Round 1 Official". NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  6. OlympicTalk (2021-06-19). "U.S. Olympic team roster: Athletes qualified for Tokyo Games". OlympicTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2016-08-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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