Turkish Wrestler Riza Kayaalp Wins Record 13th European Gold

After nearly a quarter-century, one of wrestling's most untouchable records just fell in Tirana, Albania.

Turkish heavyweight Riza Kayaalp defeated Hungary's Darius Vitek 7-1 on Tuesday to win his 13th European Championship gold medal. The victory breaks Russian legend Aleksandr Karelin's record of 12 European titles, a mark that had stood since 2000 and seemed destined to outlast generations of wrestlers.

The moment itself was quiet. A raised hand, a brief nod, and a lap around the mat with the Turkish flag draped over his shoulders. That's been Kayaalp's style throughout his 16-year career at the top: relentless consistency rather than flash.

Since winning his first European title in 2010 at age 20, Kayaalp has dominated the 130kg Greco-Roman division across two decades. He's collected five World Championship golds and three Olympic medals, though Olympic gold remains the one achievement missing from his résumé.

The road to number 13 wasn't smooth. Kayaalp had matched Karelin's record in 2023, then spoke openly about breaking it in 2024 and finishing his career with Olympic gold in Paris. Instead, he lost the 2024 European final and was barred from the Olympics entirely due to a medication issue related to treatment for persistent tinnitus.

The setback could have been the end. Instead, after winning his appeal and returning to competition in early 2025, Kayaalp described feeling renewed rather than defeated.

"For an athlete with so many titles, this was the worst thing that could happen," he told Anadolu Agency. "But I always believed I would overcome it, return to my job and leave the sport on my own terms."

Why This Inspires

Kayaalp's achievement isn't just about breaking records. It's about showing up year after year, adapting through rule changes and younger opponents, and refusing to let setbacks write the final chapter of your story.

At 36, competing in one of wrestling's most physically demanding weight classes, he could have retired with 12 titles and been celebrated. Instead, he chose to come back from the toughest period of his career to finish what he started.

His story proves that longevity and consistency can be just as powerful as early brilliance. While he plans to continue competing toward the 2028 Olympics, Kayaalp now stands alone as Europe's most decorated wrestler, a testament to perseverance over two decades.

Someone will chase his record someday, but for now, the limit that was once Karelin's 12 is now Kayaalp's 13.