Artur Edikovich Naifonov (Russian: Артур Эдикович Найфонов, IPA: [ɐrˈtur nɐɪ̯ˈfonəf], Ossetian: Найфонты Эдичы фырт Артур; born 10 May 1997) is a Russian freestyle wrestler, who competes at 86 kilograms.[2] Naifonov is an Olympic Games medalist, World Championship medalist, three-time European Continental champion and a three-time Russian National champion (four-time finalist).[3][4][5][6]

Artur Naifonov
Артур Найфонов
2021 World Wrestling Championships
Personal information
Native nameАртур Эдикович Найфонов
Full nameArtur Edikovich Naifonov
NationalityRussia Russia
Born10 May 1997 (1997-05-10) (age 27)
Nizhnevartovsk, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Sport
Country Russia
SportWrestling
Weight class86 kg
RankInternational Master of Sport in Freestyle wrestling
EventFreestyle
ClubWrestling Academy of Aslan Khadarstev
Coached byTotraz Archegov, Viktor Rozhkov, Elbrus Dudaev[1]
Medal record
Men's Freestyle Wrestling
Representing Russia ROC
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo 86 kg
Representing  Russian Wrestling Federation
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Oslo 86 kg
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Nur-Sultan 86 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Warsaw 86 kg
Gold medal – first place 2020 Rome 86 kg
Gold medal – first place 2018 Kaspiysk 86 kg
Russian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Kyzyl 86 kg
Gold medal – first place 2021 Ulan-Ude 86 kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 Sochi 86 kg
Silver medal – second place 2020 Naro-Fominsk 86 kg
Silver medal – second place 2018 Odintsovo 86 kg
Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin
Gold medal – first place 2020 Krasnoyarsk 86 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Krasnoyarsk 86 kg
Military World Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Wuhan 86 kg
World U23 Championships
Silver medal – second place 2018 Bucharest 86 kg
Junior World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Tampere 86 kg

Naifonov is a survivor of the 2004 Beslan school siege along with his sister, both receiving shrapnel wounds. His mother was killed in crossfire.[7]

Road to Olympic Games

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After coming up short and taking second place at the 2020 Russian National Championships,[8] Naifonov wasn't able to compete at the Individual World Cup and did not wrestle again until March 2021.[citation needed]

In order to achieve a place on the Olympic Team, Naifonov would have to take first place at the 2021 Russian National Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Ulan-Ude. Winning all of his matches, including against 2020 European Silver Medallist, Magomed Ramazanov whom Naifonov defeated in the semi-final. At one point, Ramazanov was winning with the score 8-1,[9] before Naifonov made a comeback to win 10-8.

Naifonov would then meet his main rival in Russia, Dauren Kurugliev, representing Dagestan, in the final. Naifonov defeated Kurugliev with the score 2-1,[10] which won Naifonov the first place on the podium,[11] gold medal and be invited to compete for his country at the Olympic games in Tokyo.[12]

2020 Olympic Games

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Following his Russian National Championships win, Naifonov wrestled at the Olympic Games held in Tokyo. Naifonov made his Olympic debut with a win over Ossetian-Slovakian transfer, Boris Makojev and defeated him 6-0, followed by a 12-1, technical fall over Turkey's Osman Göçen, advancing Naifonov into the semi-final opposite Hassan Yazdani. Yazdani won the match 7-1; however as this match was the semi-final, Naifonov was automatically placed into a third place, bronze-medal match against Dagestan-Uzbekistan transfer, Javrail Shapiev. After controlling all six minutes in a low scoring match, Naifonov won the match 2-0, securing an Olympic Bronze Medal.[13]

2021 World Championships

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Following his Bronze medal Olympic debut, Naifonov wanted to finish the year wrestling at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships, held in Norway. Naifonov faced Japan's Hayato Ishiguro in the round of 16 and defeated the Japanese wrestler 11-0 with advancement to the quarter-final match against Spanish representative, Taiumuraz Friev, who Naifonov beat 5-2. In the semi-final, Naifonov would, again, Yazdani and lost again, by the score 8-2 and ruining his hopes for gold.

Naifonov faced Kazakh wrestler, Azamat Dauletbekov in the bronze medal match, beating the Kazakh by 3-0 and winning his second world Bronze medal.[14][15]

2024 Olympic Games

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He competed at the 2024 European Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan and he earned a quota place for the Individual Neutral Athletes for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, but he missed these games, due to replacements by other NOCs.[16]

Freestyle record

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Senior Freestyle Matches
Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location
Win 112-10   Azamat Dauletbekov 3:1 December 20, 2022 Poddubny Wrestling League 3

  Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Semenov Championship 2022  
Win 111-10   Tamerlan Tapsiev Walkover November 13, 2022 Semenov Championship

  Nefteyugansk, Russia

Win 110-10   Arsen-Ali Musalaliev November 12, 2022 Semenov Championship

  Nefteyugansk, Russia

Win 109-10   Zaur Umalatov 12:1 November 12, 2022 Semenov Championship

  Nefteyugansk, Russia

Win 108-10   Georgy Rubaev Fall November 12, 2022 Semenov Championship

  Nefteyugansk, Russia

Soslan Andiev Memorial 2022  
Win 107-10   Zaur Makiev 6:0 November 5, 2022 Soslan Andiev Memorial

  Vladikavkaz, Russia

Win 106-10   Tamerlan Tapsiev 10:0 November 5, 2022 Soslan Andiev Memorial

  Vladikavkaz, Russia

Win 105-10   Avetik Vereschagin 11:0 November 5, 2022 Soslan Andiev Memorial

  Vladikavkaz, Russia

Win 104-10   Ramazan Abuzagidov 3:9 November 5, 2022 Soslan Andiev Memorial

  Vladikavkaz, Russia

Dmitry Korkin Memorial 2022  
Loss 103-11   Vladislav Valiev 1:2 October 29, 2022 Dmitry Korkin Memorial

  Yakutsk, Russia

Win 103-10   Slavil Naniev 11:0 October 28, 2022 Dmitry Korkin Memorial

  Yakutsk, Russia

Win 102-10   Zaur Umalatov 13:2 October 28, 2022 Dmitry Korkin Memorial

  Yakutsk, Russia

Poddubny Wrestling League 2  
Win 101-10   Vladislav Valiev 6:0 October 14, 2022 Poddubny Wrestling League 2

  Moscow, Russia

Win 100-10   Arsen-Ali Musalaliev 13:0 October 13, 2022 Poddubny Wrestling League 2

  Moscow, Russia

Win 99-10   Roman Chitadze 10:0 October 13, 2022 Poddubny Wrestling League 2

  Moscow, Russia

Spartakiada  
Win 98-10   Malik Shavaev 2:0 August 26, 2022 Spartakiada

  Kazan, Tatarstan

Win 97-10   Slavik Naniev 6:0 August 25, 2022 Spartakiada

  Kazan, Tatarstan

Win 96-10   Arslan Bagaev 10:0 August 25, 2022 Spartakiada

  Kazan, Tatarstan

Russian National Championships 2022  
Win 95-10   Amanula Rasulov 3:0 June 26, 2022 Russian National Championships

  Kyzyl, Tuva

Win 95-10   Arsen-Ali Musalaliev 6:0 June 25, 2022 Russian National Championships

  Kyzyl, Tuva

Win 94-10   Arslan Bagaev 3:0 June 25, 2022 Russian National Championships

  Kyzyl, Tuva

Win 93-10   Slavik Naniev 4:2 June 25, 2022 Russian National Championships

  Kyzyl, Tuva

Poddubny Wrestling League  
Win 92–10   Dauren Kurugliev 3-2 May 20, 2022
Win 91–10   Roman Chitadze 10-0 May 19, 2022
2021 World Championships   at 86 kg
Win 90–10   Azamat Dauletbekov 3-0 October 3, 2021
Loss 89–10   Hassan Yazdani 2-8 October 2, 2021
Win 89–9   Taimuraz Friev 5–2
Win 88–9   Hayato Ishiguro TF 11–0
2020 Summer Olympics   at 86 kg
Win 87–9   Javrail Shapiev 2–0 August 5, 2021 2020 Summer Olympics

  Tokyo, Japan

Loss 86–9   Hassan Yazdani 1–7 August 4, 2021
Win 86–8   Osman Göçen TF 12–1
Win 85–8   Boris Makojev 6–0
2021 European Championships   at 86 kg
Win 84–8   Sandro Aminashvili 8–0 AprIl 19–21, 2021 2021 European Continental Championships

  Warsaw, Poland

Win 83–8   Boris Makojev 9–0
Win 82–8   Myles Amine 2–0
Win 81–8   Gadzhimurad Magomedsaidov 10–2
2021 Russian Nationals   at 86 kg
Win 80–8   Dauren Kurugliev 2–1 March 11–14, 2021 2021 Russian National Freestyle Wrestling Championships

  Ulan-Ude, Russia

Win 79–8   Magomed Ramazanov 10–8
Win 78–8   Khabi Khashpakov 2–1
Win 77–8   Nikita Sofronov TF 11–0
Win 76–8   Magomed Gusbanov
2020 Russian Nationals   at 86 kg
Loss 75–8   Dauren Kurugliev 1–2 October 16–18, 2020 2020 Russian National Freestyle Wrestling Championships

  Naro-Fominsk, Russia

Win 75–7   Arsen-Ali Musalaliev 8–0
Win 74–7   Magomedsharif Biyakaev 4–0
Win 73–7   Aslanbek Gvaramia TF 11–0
Win 72–7   Magomed Gusbanov 8–2
2020 European Championships   at 86 kg
Win 71–7   Myles Amine 4–0 February 15–16, 2020 2020 European Continental Championships

  Rome, Italy

Win 70–7   Boris Makojev 3–0
Win 69–7   Radosław Marcinkiewicz TF 10–0
Win 68–7   Abubakr Abakarov 8–2
Win 67–7   Akhmed Magamaev 5–0
2020 Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix   at 86 kg
Win 66–7   Dauren Kurugliev 2–1 January 23–26, 2020 Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2020

  Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Win 65–7   Arsen-Ali Musalaliev 2–0
Win 64–7   Zaur Makiev 2–2
Win 63–7   Brett Pfarr 6–0
Win 62–7   Shinetur Narmandakh TF 10–0
2019 Military World Games   at 86 kg
Win 61–7   Ahmed Dudarov TF 10–0 October 21–24, 2019 2019 Military World Games

  Warsaw, Poland

Win 60–7   Adilet Davlumbaev TF 13–2
Win 59–7   Akhmed Aibuev 7–0
Win 58–7   Lee Seungdong TF 11–0
Win 57–7   Ahmad Yousef Bazrighaleh 6–3
2019 World Championships   at 86 kg
Win 56–7   Myles Amine 6–0 September 21–22, 2019 2019 World Wrestling Championships

  Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Win 55–7   István Veréb TF 11–1
Loss 54–7   Hassan Yazdani Fall
Win 54–6   Javrail Shapiev 6–0
Win 53–6   Piotr Ianulov 4–0
Win 52–6   Ville Heino 5–1
2019 Poland Open   at 86 kg
Win 51–6   Zbigniew Baranowski 4–1 August 2–4, 2019 2019 Ziolkowski, Pytlasinski Memorial

  Warsaw, Poland

Win 50–6   Fatih Erdin Fall
Win 49–6   Adilet Davlmbayev 8–2
Win 48–6   Radosław Marcinkiewicz 8–1
2019 Russian Nationals   at 86 kg
Win 47–6   Vladislav Valiev 4–2 July 5–7, 2019 2019 Russian National Freestyle Wrestling Championships

  Sochi, Russia

Win 46–6   Soslan Ktsoyev 4–0
Win 45–6   Zaur Makiev 4–0
Win 44–6   Magomed Ramazanov 7–3
Win 43–6   Matvey Yakomaskin TF 10–0
2019 Ali Aliev Memorial   at 86 kg
Win 42–6   Dauren Kurugliev 2–2 May 1–3, 2019 2019 Ali Aliev Memorial

  Kaspiysk, Russia

Win 41–6   Arsen-Ali Musalaliev 4–2
Win 40–6   Javrail Shapiev 3–1
Win 39–6   Rasul Tsikhayeu 4–3
Win 38–6   Denis Balaur 3–1
2018 Alans International 8th at 86 kg
Loss 37–6   Slavik Naniev Fall December 7–9, 2018 2018 Alans International

  Vladikavkaz, Russia

Win 37–5   Arseniy Khubaev 6–0
2018 U23 World Championships   at 86 kg
Loss 36–5   Kamran Ghasempour 1–4 November 12–18, 2018 2018 U23 World Wrestling Championships

  Bucharest, Romania

Win 36–4   Murad Süleymanov TF 14–4
Win 35–4   Alex Moore TF 11–0
Win 34–4   Uphar Sharma TF 10–0
Win 33–4   Michał Bielawski TF 10–0
2018 Dmitry Korkin Memorial   at 92 kg
Win 32–4   Anzor Urishev 4–3 September 6–8, 2018 2018 Dmitry Korkin International Memorial

  Yakutsk, Russia

Win 31–4   Turtogtokh Luvsandorj 6–0
Win 30–4   Paredes Villagómez TF 10–0
2018 Russian Nationals   at 86 kg
Loss 29–4   Dauren Kurugliev 1–2 August 3–5, 2018 2018 Russian National Freestyle Wrestling Championships

  Odintsovo, Russia

Win 29–3   Zelimkhan Minkailov 3–0
Win 28–3   Alik Shebzukhov TF 10–0
2018 European Championships   at 86 kg
Win 27–3   Alexander Gostiev 1–1 May 5–6, 2018 2018 European Continental Championships

  Kaspiysk, Russia

Win 26–3   Fatih Erdin 4–2
Win 25–3   Shamil Kudiyamagomedov 7–6
Win 24–3   Zbigniew Baranowski 9–2
Win 23–3   István Veréb 5–0
2018 Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Memorial   at 86 kg
Win 22–3   Taimuraz Friev INJ March 22–25, 2018 2018 Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Memorial

  Sofia, Bulgaria

Win 21–3   Georgy Rubaev DQ
Win 20–3   Shamil Kudiyamagomedov 5–4
Win 19–3   Ahmet Bilici TF 10–0
Win 18–3   Vladislav Valiev 3–2
2018 Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix   at 86 kg
Win 17–3   Yurieski Torreblanca 2–1 January 28, 2018 Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2018

  Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Loss 16–3   David Taylor Fall
Win 16–2   Dauren Kurugliev 3–2
Win 15–2   Zushen Lin TF 10–0
2017 Alans International   at 86 kg
Win 14–2   Vladislav Valiev 1–1 November 17–19, 2017 2017 Alans International

  Vladikavkaz, Russia

Win 13–2   Alexander Gostiev 4–4
Win 12–2   Batyrbek Tsakulov 11–4
Win 11–2   Gulaev Akhsarbek FF
2017 Alrosa Cup   as Team RUS at 86 kg
Win 10–2   Alexander Gostiev PP November 9–13, 2017 2017 Alrosa Team Cup

  Moscow, Russia

Win 9–2   Pavel Untila TF
Win 8–2   Davit Khutsishvili PP
2017 Yugra Cup   at 86 kg
Win 7–2   Arseni Khubaev 6–2 October 28–29, 2017 2017 Yugra Cup

  Nefteyugansk, Russia

Loss 6–2   Zaur Makiev 5–12
Win 6–1   Aleksandr Zelenkov 6–1
Win 5–1   Kanat Berdiyev TF 10–0
2017 Stepan Sargsyan Cup   at 86 kg
Win 4–1   Batyrbek Tsakulov 4–0 October 7–8, 2017 2017 Stepan Sargsyan Cup

  Vanadzor, Armenia

Win 3–1   David Khutsishvili TF 10–0
Win 2–1   Saba Chikhradze TF 12–2
Win 1–1   Vahe Tamrazyan 8–1
2017 Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix 17th at 86 kg
Loss 0–1   Akhmed Magamaev 1–6 January 28, 2017 Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2017

  Krasnoyarsk, Russia

References

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  1. ^ "Totraz Archegov: "It's not enough to be a good athlete. One must be a man - then God will help!"". gazetabeslana.ru. May 20, 2014.
  2. ^ "Artur Naifonov Profile". Infosport.ru. infosport. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Артур Найфонов - чемпион Европы по спортивной борьбе". depsport.ru. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  4. ^ "Артур Найфонов выиграл чемпионат Европы по вольной борьбе | ГТРК Алания". Россия-Алания / ГТРК "АЛАНИЯ" (in Russian). 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  5. ^ "MMA/Единоборства. Российский борец Найфонов завоевал золото чемпионата Европы". news.sportbox.ru (in Russian). 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  6. ^ сайт «ОСнова», Северо-Осетинский информационный. "Артур Найфонов - чемпион Европы по вольной борьбе!". ОсНова.News. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  7. ^ "Борец Артур Найфонов принес России бронзу на Олимпиаде. 17 лет назад он был заложником в школе Беслана, его мать погибла при теракте". Медуза (in Russian). 2021-08-07. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  8. ^ "Чемпионат России по вольной борьбе среди мужчин. День 3. Результаты, итоги". karate.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  9. ^ Telesport. "Найфонов победил Рамазанова, проигрывая 1:8! Полуфинал чемпионата России 2021 – смотреть видео | TeleSport – бесплатные прямые онлайн трансляции". tele-sport.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  10. ^ "Артур Найфонов стал чемпионом России по вольной борьбе - 15-Й РЕГИОН". 15-Й РЕГИОН - Информационный портал РСО - Алания (in Russian). 2021-03-12. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  11. ^ "Двукратный чемпион мира Заур Угуев, Артур Найфонов и Магомед Курбанов – чемпионы России по вольной борьбе в Улан-Удэ". allsportinfo.ru. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  12. ^ "Артур Найфонов стал чемпионом России по вольной борьбе". vladikavkaz.bezformata.com. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  13. ^ "Artur Naifonov, Myles Amine win men's 86kg bronze medals | NBC Olympics". www.nbcolympics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  14. ^ "86 kg Final 3-5 - Azamat Dauletbekov, Kazakhstan vs Artur Naifonov, Russian Wrestling Federation". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  15. ^ "NAIFONOV Artur profile page". uww.org (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  16. ^ "2024 European Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament Results Book" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
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