All-Time USA World Championship Medal Winners
By Mike Finn
Updated: August 16, 2017
| The following is a list of American wrestlers — men’s freestyle (MFS), Greco-Roman (G-R) and women’s freestyle (WFS) — who have won a medal in all-time World Championships. | ||||
| The first Worlds were held in 1907, but the United States did not start competing until 1961. | ||||
| Year | Location | Gold Medalists | Silver Medalists | Bronze Medalists |
| 1961 | Yokohama, Japan | — | — | — |
| 1962 | Toledo, Ohio | — | — | James Ferguson (MFS), 78k |
| Daniel Brand (MFS), 97k | ||||
| James Burke (G-R), 70k | ||||
| 1963 | Sofia, Bulgaria (MFS) | — | — | James Raschke (G-R), 97k> |
| Helsingborg, Sweden (G-R) | Greg Ruth (MFS), 70k | |||
| 1965 | Manchester, England (MFS) | — | — | Larry Kristoff (MFS), 97k> |
| Tampere, Finland (G-R) | ||||
| 1966 | Toledo, Ohio | — | Bobby Douglas (MFS), 63k | Richard Sanders (MFS), 52k |
| Larry Kristoff (MFS), 97k> | ||||
| 1967 | New Delhi, India (MFS) | — | Richard Sanders (MFS), 52k | Larry Kristoff (MFS), 97k> |
| Bucharest, Romania (G-R) | Michael Young (MFS), 63k | |||
| 1969 | Mar del Plata, Argentina | Fred Fozzard (MFS), 82k | Don Behm (MFS), 57k | David Hazewinkel (G-R), 57k |
| Richard Sanders (MFS), 52k | Larry Kristoff (MFS), 100k | Henk Schenk (MFS), 90k | ||
| Wayne Wells (MFS), 74k | ||||
| 1970 | Edmonton, Canada | Wayne Wells (MFS), 74k | Bill Harlow (MFS), 90k | Bobby Douglas (MFS), 68k |
| David Hazewinkel (G-R), 57k | Michael Young (MFS), 62k | |||
| Larry Kristoff (MFS), 100k | ||||
| 1971 | Sofia Bulgaria | Dan Gable (MFS), 68k | Don Behm (MFS), 57k | Russ Hellickson (MFS), 90k |
| 1973 | Tehran, Iran | Lloyd Keaser (MFS), 68k | — | Ben Peterson (MFS), 90k |
| 1974 | Istanbul, Turkey (MFS) | |||
| Katowice, Poland (G-R) | ||||
| 1975 | Minsk, Russia | — | — | — |
| 1977 | Lausanne, Switzerland (MFS) | Stan Dziedzic (MFS), 74k | Jim Humphrey (MFS), 62k | Jack Reinwand (MFS), 57k |
| Gothenburg, Sweden (G-R) | ||||
| 1978 | Mexico City, Mexico | Lee Kemp (MFS), 74k | — | John Peterson (MFS), 82k |
| 1979 | San Diego, Calif. | Lee Kemp (MFS), 74k | Jim Haines (MFS), 52k | Joe Corso (MFS), 57k |
| Russ Hellickson (MFS), 100k | Andre Metzger (MFS), 62k | |||
| Abdurrahim Kuzu (G-R), 62k | Brad Rheingans (G-R), 100k | |||
| John Peterson (MFS), 82k | Bob Walker (G-R), 100k> | |||
| Bobby Weaver (MFS), 48k | ||||
| 1981 | Skopje, Yugoslavia (MFS) | Chris Campbell (MFS), 82k | Greg Gibson (MFS), 100k | Lee Kemp (MFS), 74k |
| Oslo, Norway (G-R) | Bill Rosaro (MFS), 48k | |||
| 1982 | Edmonton, Canada (MFS) | Lee Kemp (MFS), 74k | — | Greg Gibson (MFS), 100k |
| Katowice, Poland (G-R) | Joe Gonzalez (MFS), 52k | |||
| Dave Schultz (MFS), 82k | ||||
| 1983 | Kiev, Russia | Dave Schultz (MFS), 74k | Greg Gibson (MFS), 100k | Bruce Baumgartner (MFS), 100k+ |
| Lee Roy Smith (MFS), 62k | ||||
| 1985 | Budapest, Hungary (MFS) | Mike Houck (G-R), 90k | Kevin Darkus (MFS), 57k | James Martinez (G-R), 68k |
| Kolbotn, Norway (G-R) | Bill Scherr (MFS), 100k | Dave Schultz (MFS), 74k | Bruce Baumgartner (MFS), 130k | |
| Mark Schultz (MFS), 82k | ||||
| 1986 | Budapest, Hungary (MFS) | Bruce Baumgartner (MFS), 130k | Joe McFarland (MFS), 62k | Barry Davis (MFS), 57k |
| Andre Metzger (MFS), 68k | James Scherr (MFS), 90k | |||
| Bill Scherr (MFS), 100k | Dave Schultz (MFS), 74k | |||
| 1987 | Clermont-Ferrand, France | Mark Schultz (MFS), 82k | Barry Davis (MFS), 57k | Bruce Baumgartner (MFS), 130k |
| John Smith (MFS), 62k | James Scherr (MFS), 90k | Andre Metzger (MFS), 68k | ||
| Dave Schultz (MFS), 74k | Bill Scherr (MFS), 100k | |||
| 1989 | Martigny, Switzerland | Kenny Monday (MFS), 74k | Bruce Baumgartner (MFS), 130k | — |
| John Smith (MFS). 62k | Asia de Weese (WFS), 50k | |||
| Melvin Douglas (MFS), 82k | ||||
| Mike Foy (G-R), 90k | ||||
| Leia Kawaii (WFS), 70k | ||||
| Bill Scherr (MFS), 100k | ||||
| James Scherr (MFS), 90k | ||||
| 1990 | Tokyo, Japan (MFS) | John Smith (MFS), 62k | Royce Alger (MFS), 82k | Kirk Trost (MFS), 100k |
| Ostia, Italy (G-R) | Bruce Baumgartner (MFS), 130k | |||
| Lulea, Switzerland (WFS) | Chris Campbell (MFS), 90k | |||
| Afsoon Roshanzamier (WFS), 47k | ||||
| Marie Ziegler (WFS), 44k | ||||
| 1991 | Varna, Bulgaria (MFS/G-R) | Kevin Jackson (MFS), 82k | Mark Coleman (MFS), 100k | — |
| Tokyo, Japan (WFS) | Zeke Jones (MFS), 52k | Matt Ghaffari (G-R), 130k | ||
| John Smith (MFS), 62k | Kenny Monday (MFS), 74k | |||
| Brad Penrith (MFS), 57k | ||||
| Shawn Sheldon (G-R), 52k | ||||
| Shannon Willams (WFS), 50k | ||||
| Marie Ziegler (WFS), 44k | ||||
| 1992 | Villeubanne, France (WFS) | Tricia Saunders (WFS), 50k | — | — |
| 1993 | Toronto, Canada (MFS) | Bruce Baumgartner (MFS), 130k | Tricia Saunders (WFS), 47k | — |
| Stockholm, Sweden (G-R) | Terry Brands (MFS), 57k | Dave Schultz (MFS), 74k | ||
| Stavern, Norway (WFS) | Tom Brands (MFS), 62k | Shannon Williams (WFS), 50k | ||
| Melvin Douglas (MFS), 90k | ||||
| 1994 | Istanbul, Turkey (MFS) | — | Bruce Baumgartner (MFS), 130k | Melvin Douglas (MFS), 90k |
| Tampere, Finland (G-R) | Margaret Legate (WFS), 47k | Dennis Hall (G-R), 57k | ||
| Sofia, Bulgaria (WFS) | Shannon Williams (WFS), 53k | |||
| 1995 | Atlanta, Ga. (MFS) | Kurt Angle (MFS), 100k | — | Melvin Douglas (MFS), 90k |
| Prague, Czech Rep. (G-R) | Bruce Baumgartner (MFS), 130k | Matt Ghaffari (G-R), 130k | ||
| Moscow, Russia (WFS) | Terry Brands (MFS), 57k | Zeke Jones (MFS), 52k | ||
| Dennis Hall (G-R), 57k | Vickie Zummo (WFS), 44k | |||
| Kevin Jackson (MFS), 82k | ||||
| 1996 | Sofia, Bulgaria (WFS) | Tricia Saunders (WFS), 47k | Jackie Berube (WFS), 57k | — |
| Kristie Davis (WFS), 75k | ||||
| 1997 | Krasnojarsk, Russia (MFS) | Les Gutches (MFS), 85k | Cary Kolat (MFS), 63k | — |
| Wroclaw, Poland (G-R) | Sandra Bacher (WFS) | |||
| Clermont-Ferrand, France (WFS) | Kristie Davis (WFS), 75k | |||
| Shannon Williams (WFS), 68k | ||||
| 1998 | Tehran, Iran (MFS) | Sammie Henson (MFS), 54k | Kristie Davis (WFS), 75k | Sandra Bacher (WFS), 68k |
| Gaevie, Sweden (G-R) | Tricia Saunders (WFS), 46k | Matt Ghaffari (G-R), 130k | ||
| Poznan, Poland (WFS) | Cary Kolat (MFS), 63k | |||
| Lincoln McIlravy (MFS), 69k | ||||
| 1999 | Ankara, Turkey (MFS) | Sandra Bacher (WFS), 85k | Kristie Davis (WFS), 75k | Les Gutches (MFS), 85k |
| Athens, Greece (G-R) | Stephan Neal (MFS), 130k | Lincoln McIlravy (MFS), 69k | ||
| Boden, Sweden (WFS) | Tricia Saunders (WFS), 46k | |||
| 2000# | Sofia, Bulgaria (WFS) | Kristie Davis (WFS), 68k | Patricia Miranda (WFS), 51k | — |
| 2001 | Sofia, Bulgaria (MFS/WFS) | Rulon Gardner (G-R), 130k | Brandon Eggum (MFS), 85k | Joe Williams (MFS), 76k |
| Patras, Greece (G-R) | Matt Lindland (G-R), 85k | |||
| Toccara Montgomery (WFS), 68k | ||||
| Stephanie Murata (WFS).51k | ||||
| Brandon Paulson (G-R), 54k | ||||
| 2002 | Tehran, Iran (MFS) * | Dremiel Byers (G-R), 120k | Tina George (WFS), 55k | Kristie Davis (WFS), 67k |
| Moscow, Russia (G-R) | ||||
| Chalkida, Greece (WFS) | ||||
| 2003 | New York, N.Y. (MFS/WFS) | Kristie Davis (WFS), 67k | Tina George (WFS), 55k | Sally Roberts (WFS), 59k |
| Creteil, France (G-R) | Kerry McCoy (MFS), 120k | Jenny Wong (WFS), 51k | ||
| Sara McMann (WFS), 63k | ||||
| Patricia Miranda (WFS), 48k | ||||
| Toccara Montgomery (WFS), 72k | ||||
| Cael Sanderson (MFS), 84k | ||||
| 2005 | Budapest, Hungary | Iris Smith (WFS), 72k | — | Katie Downing (WFS), 67k |
| Sara McMann (WFS), 63i | ||||
| Sally Roberts (WFS), 59k | ||||
| Justin Ruiz (G-R), 96k | ||||
| Tolly Thompson (MFS), 120k | ||||
| Joe Williams (MFS), 74k | ||||
| 2006 | Guangzhou, China | Bill Zadick (MFS), 66k | Mike Zadick (MFS), 60k | Kristie Davis (WFS), 72k |
| Joe Warren (G-R), 60k | Lindsey Durlacher (G-R), 55k | |||
| Sammie Henson (MFS), 55k | ||||
| Justin Lester (G-R), 66k | ||||
| Patricia Miranda (WFS), 51k | ||||
| Don Pritzlaff (MFS), 74k | ||||
| 2007 | Baku, Azerbaijan | — | Kristie Davis (WFS), 72k | Dremiel Byers (G-R), 120k |
| Brad Vering (G-R), 84k | Dan Cormier (MFS), 96k | |||
| Katie Downing (WFS), 67k | ||||
| Justin Lester (G-R), 66k | ||||
| Sara McMann (WFS), 63k | ||||
| 2008# | Tokyo, Japan (WFS) | Clarissa Chun (WFS), 48k | — | Tatiana Padilla (WFS), 55k |
| 2009 | Herning, Denmark | — | Dremiel Byers (G-R), 120k | Tervel Dlagnev (MFS), 120k |
| Jake Herbert (MFS), 84k | ||||
| 2010 | Moscow, Russia | — | Elena Pirozhkova (WFS), 63k | Tatiana Padilla (WFS), 55k |
| 2011 | Istanbul, Turkey | Jordan Burroughs (MFS), 74k | — | Ali Bernard (WFS), 72k |
| Adeline Gray (WFS), 67k | ||||
| Jake Varner (MFS), 96k | ||||
| 2012# | Strathcona County, Canada (WFS) | Adeline Gray (WFS),67k | Helen Maroulis (WFS), 55k | Alyssa Lampe (WFS), 51k |
| Elena Pirozhkova (WFS), 63k | ||||
| 2013 | Budapest, Hungary | Jordan Burroughs (MFS), 74k | — | Alyssa Lampe (WFS), 48k |
| Elena Pirozhkova (WFS), 63k | ||||
| 2014 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Adeline Gray (WFS), 75k | Elena Pirozhkova (WFS), 63k | Andy Bisek (G-R), 75k |
| Jordan Burroughs (MFS), 74k | ||||
| Tervel Dlagnev (MFS), 120k | ||||
| Helen Maroulis (WFS), 55i | ||||
| 2015 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Jordan Burroughs (MFS) | — | Andy Bisek (G-R), 75k |
| Adeline Gray (WFS), 75k | James Green (MFS), 70k | |||
| Helen Maroulis (WFS), 55k | Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (WFS), 60k | |||
| Kyle Snyder (MFS), 97k | ||||
| 2016# | Budapest, Hungary | Logan Stieber (MFS), 61k | Alli Ragan (WFS), 60k | — |
| # — Women’s freestyle World Championships were held in five Olympic years (1992, ‘96 2000, ’08 and ’12) | ||||
| and two non-Olympic weights in each of the three styles were held in 2016. | ||||
| * — The men’s freestyle team did not compete because of a credible safety threat. | ||||
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