Razambek Zhamalov

Zhamalov made his senior freestyle debut the same day he became eligible to, as he turned eighteen in July 2016, at the Ali Aliev Memorial, where he placed tenth after going 1–1.[11] On November, he claimed the Intercontinental Cup, with a notable win over defending two-time Asian Champion Daulet Niyazbekov in the finals.[10][12] In January 2017, he placed ninth at the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin.[13] On March, he moved up from 61 kg to 66 kg, claimed the Roman Dmitriev Memorial championship and was named the Outstanding Wrestler, after defeating four opponents by the same score of 10–0.[10] On September, he placed eight at the Alexandr Medved Prizes.[14] To close off the year, Zhamalov claimed the Stepan Sargsyan Cup on Armenia in October.[15]

In 2018, he started off by moving up from 65 kg to 70 kg, and on March, he became a two-time Roman Dmitriev Memorial champion.[16] After qualifying via junior tournaments, Zhamalov wrestled at the Russian Nationals of August, where after recording an 8–1 victory, he was defeated in a closely contested 1–2 match against '15 World Champion and eventual '18 World Champion Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov, and then was again defeated by two-time age-group World Champion David Baev in a last-second come-from-behind loss.[17] After his runner-up finish at the Junior World Championships, Zhamalov became a two-time Intercontinental Cup champion, when he defeated the returning champion of the tournament and '10 Military World Champion Aghahuseyn Mustafayev in the finale.[18] He then represented Russia at the Akhmat Kadyrov Cup, where he compiled three five-pointers and one four-pointer for the team.[19] On December, he placed third at the Alans International Tournament, with a lone and close loss to '16 World Champion Magomed Kurbanaliev.[20]

To start off the year, Zhamalov competed at the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin of January, where he earned a bronze medal after a loss to returning World Champion Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov and wins over '18 US Open National Champion Jason Chamberlain and two-time age-group World Champion David Baev, the latter becoming the most notable match in the tournament.[21] In March, he became the U23 European Champion at age 20,[22] and in May, he claimed the Ali Aliev Memorial title.[23] On July, he competed at the Russian Nationals, where he made the finals by downing '17 Russian National champion Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov and '18 Junior European Champion Chermen Valiev, before being defeated by rival David Baev in another epic match, to claim the silver medal.[24] After losing the chance to represent Russia at the World Championships, Zhamalov bumped up to an Olympic weight class (from 70 kg to 74 kg) and went on to win the U23 All-Russia Open Tournament with a win over '18 U23 World Championship medalist Timur Bizhoev in the finals, on September, becoming the 2019 U23 Russian World Teamer.[25] Aged 21, he became the U23 World Champion with five decision victories at the U23 World Championships.[26]

To start off the year (January), Zhamalov got a series of victories over high level opponents at the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin, such as '19 European Championship medalist Timur Bizhoev, '19 World Championship runner-up and '19 Asian Champion Nurkozha Kaipanov, and '16 World Champion Magomed Kurbanaliev, before being defeated in the finals by two-time World Champion Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov, to claim the silver medal.[27][28] After being unable to compete for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhamalov came back on October to claim the 2020 Russian National Championship, when he defeated '14 World Champion Khetag Tsabolov in the finals.[29] After his championship showdown at the Russian Nationals, Zhamalov was selected as the Russian representative for the '20 Individual World Cup of December (replacement for the World Championships). At the tournament, he compiled a combined score of 21–0 against three opponents to reach the finals, where he faced the accomplished two-time World Champion Frank Chamizo, whom he was able to edge with a comeback win in the last seconds of the match with a two-point takedown, to become the champion of the biggest tournament of his career.[30][31]

Zhamalov competed at the Russian National Championships on March, where after dominating '19 International Cup runner-up Magomed Dibirgadzhiev and '16 University World Champion Nabirbek Khizriev, he avenged his last loss from the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2020 to two–time World Champion Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov by points to make the finals. In the finale, he wrestled two-time and reigning World Champion Zaurbek Sidakov, whom he lost to in a close 2–3 match, giving up the 2021 RU Olympic Team Spot.[32]

In April, Zhamalov competed at the European Championships, and after racking up a notable win over Semen Radulov, he was defeated by 2018 U23 World Champion Tajmuraz Salkazanov and two–time World Champion Frank Chamizo, placing fifth.[33] During the tournament, Zhamalov suffered a serious injury that required surgery and months of rest, leaving him out for the year.[34]

After more than a year without competing, Zhamalov came back to the mat on May 19 at the prestigious Poddubny Wrestling League, where he reached the semifinals before losing to rival David Baev. He came back to pick up a bronze medal.[35] A month later, Zhamalov competed at the Russian National Championships from June 24 to 26, where he reached the crown over a deep bracket with a revenge win over Baev in the semifinals and a win over fellow U23 World Champion and Russian National champion Chermen Valiev in the finale.[36]