October 21, 2021 - 12:41 AMT
Arsen Julfalakyanhas elected Chairman of UWW Athletes’ Commission

United World Wrestling has announced that Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler Arsen Julfalakyan was elected Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission.

An, Olympic silver medalist, World and European Champion, and three-time Olympian, Julfalakayan was selected as the Commission’s Chairman by the six other Athletes’ Commission members -- Tamas Lorincz, Yui Susaki, Hassan Yazdanicharati, Maxwell Lacey Garita, Blessing Oborududu and Jessica Lavers-McBain – who were voted into office by their fellow athletes through voting that took place at the ‘21 Senior World Wrestling Championships in Oslo, Norway.

“I wanted to express my gratitude to my peers in the Athletes' Commission for their trust and support during the elections. It’s a great honor for me to become the Chairman of the Commission,” said Julfalakayan.

Julfalakayan has served as an active member of the Athletes' Commission since ’17 but will now be a voting member of the United World Wrestling Bureau. He replaces ‘12 London Olympic champion and five-time world gold medalist Jordan Burroughs, who has served in the role since September 2017.

In addition to sitting on the Bureau as the Athletes’ representative, Julfalakayan will also represent wrestlers/wrestling in the IOC Athletes Forum, WADA and in other organizations.

“I’ll make sure to use all my knowledge, experience and energy to bring the Commission to even a higher level. Of course, that will be possible only with tightest cooperation with all the members of Commission and UWW,”

Julfalakayan’s first responsibility as the Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission will come later this month in Belgrade, Serbia, at the UWW Bureau and Congress meeting.

The Athletes' Commission was established in 2013 with the role of protecting the rights and interests of all United World Wrestling Olympic style athletes. The Athletes' Commission members reach out and communicate with active athletes as peers to collect feedback.