Natalia Vorobieva

Natalia Vorobieva is a two time World Champion freestyle wrestler, and won the gold medal for her native Russia at the 2012 Olympic Games.

This world class athlete stumbled into wrestling by chance, when she started going to the local gym in her hometown of Tulun. Her parents were initially worried about her taking up the sport but when they realised she loved training and competing they became supportive and helped her succeed during her junior career. She took home the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in 2009 and 2010 before making her senior debut. Vorobieva burst onto the scene at the 2012 London Olympic Games, taking home the gold medal at the women’s freestyle wrestling event. From there she went on to win a bronze medal at the European Championships in 2013 and a silver at the World Championships the following year. She has since won three European Championship titles, including at the 2020 competition in Rome. In 2016 Vorobieva took home her second Olympic medal at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, once again proving herself as one of the most formidable female wrestlers on the scene today.

Vorobieva has become known for the powerful, fast style she brings to matches, often tiring her opponents out or beating them with her speed. She looks set for many more successful years in the sport after she took her second World Championship title in 2019.