Suleyman Karadeniz at the 2020 European Championships (Photo/Anadolu Agency)As of today, we under 50 days from the start of wrestling at the Olympic Games. Over the next 50 days, we'll bring you one profile per day of a decorated international contender. Make sure you get to know the wrestlers that Team USA will compete against in Tokyo.
7/6/21 - Frank Chamizo (Italy)
7/3/21 - Yui Susaki (Japan)
7/1/21 - Amir Zare (Iran)
6/28/21 - Zavur Uguev (Russia)
6/27/21 - Zhan Beleniuk (Ukraine)
6/26/21 - Sergey Kozyrev (Russia)
6/24/21 - Kenchiro Fumita (Japan)
6/23/21 - Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov (Belarus)
6/22/21 - Erica Wiebe (Canada)
6/21/21 - Myles Amine (San Marino)
6/20/21 - Sofia Mattsson (Sweden)
6/19/21 - Hassan Yazdani Charati (Iran)
6/18/21 - Tamas Lorincz (Hungary)
6/17/21 - Takuro Otoguro (Japan)
6/16/21 - Elizbar Odikadze (Georgia)
6/15/21 - Koumba Larroque (France)
6/14/21 - Haji Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
6/13/21 - Ningning Rong (China)
6/12/21 - Bajrang Punia (India)
6/11/21 - Frank Staebler (Germany)
6/10/21 - Geno Petriashvili (Georgia)
Part of the Turkish resurgence along with #2 (57) Suleyman Atli (TUR), #5 (70) Heydar Yavuz (TUR), Fazli Eryilmaz (TUR), Osman Gocen (TUR) and #6 (92) Erhan Yaylaci (TUR), #6 Suleyman Karadeniz of Turkey burst onto the scene in 2020 beating past world medalists Aslanbek Alborov (AZE) and #13 (92) Irakli Mtsituri (GEO) for gold at the 92 KG European Championships. A bronze medal at the Individual World Cup to end the year and a runner-up finish at the European championships this year have cemented Karadeniz as a medal contender going into Tokyo. Today's Olympic profile will look at rising 97 KG #6 Suleyman Karadeniz of Turkey.
The Stats
#6 Suleyman Karadeniz (TUR)- 2019 92 KG Ziolkowski champion, 2020 92 KG European champion, 2020 97 KG Individual World Cup bronze medalist, 2021 97 KG International Ukrainian Tournament champion, 2021 European Olympic Qualifier runner-up), 2021 97 KG European runner-up.
Key Wins: #7 Elizbar Odikadze (2021 International Ukrainian Tournament, 2021 European championships), #6 (92) Erhan Yaylaci (2019 92 KG International Ukrainian Tournament) #15 Albert Saritov (2021 European OG Qualifier), #17 Erik Thiele (2021 European OG Qualifier), Aslanbek Alborov (2020 92 KG European championships), #13 (92) Irakli Mtsituri (2020 92 KG European championships), Shamil Zubairov (2019 92 KG world championships, 2021 97 KG European championships).
Key Losses: #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (2020 97 KG Individual World Cup), #4 Alikhan Zhabrailov ( 2019 92 KG World Cup, 2019 92 KG world championships, 2021 97 Kg European championships finals), #11 Aleksandr Hushtyn (2021 97 KG European OG qualifier), Bendeguz Toth (2019 92 KG Yasar Dogu), Mojitaba Goleij (2017 Tbilisi GP finals), #13 (92) Irakli Mtsituri (2019 92 KG Dan Kolov, 2019 92 KG International Ukrainian Tournament)
2016-2018
Suleyman Karadeniz began his career in early 2016 at the 97 KG U-23 European Championships, debuting and losing against Givi Matcharashvili of Georgia. A winless performance at the Alrosa Cup would end Karadeniz' 2016 on a sour note and the start of 2017 saw him fare no better with a 17th place finish at the Yasar Dogu, after an opening-round loss to 2014 world bronze medalist Selim Erdogan (TUR). Karadeniz would make his first breakthrough in the middle of 2017, with a runner-up finish at the Tbilsi GP to 2x U-23 world champion Mojitaba Goleij (IRI). At the Tbilisi GP, Karadeniz beat a pair of tough Georgians in 2011 Junior World runner-up Mamuka Kordazia (GEO) and 2020 125 KG Georgian National runner-up Zviad Metrevelli (GEO). A bronze medal finish at the Ion Cornianu Memorial would push Karadeniz into the Intercontinental Cup. An opening-round loss to Sukhrobjon Mukaramov (UZB) saw him finish in 14th place and finish the year on a loss. Karadeniz would compete once in 2018 , in his debut at 92 KG, in a loaded field at the Tbilisi GP, where he took fifth. Karadeniz put together one of the most complete performances of his young career, beating Dave Schultz Memorial Invitational champion Iliskhan Chilayev (KAZ) and Asian championships bronze medalist Azizbek Soliev (UZB) against losses to #3 (92) Javad Ebrahimi (IRI) and #9 Alireza Karimimachiani (IRI)
2019-2021
Karadeniz had an absolutely maniacal schedule in 2019, competing an incredible seven times at his new weight class of 92 KG. Starting off his year would be Takhti Cup, where Karadeniz fell in his opening match to 2012 Olympic champion #12 Sharif Sharifov (AZE). A 1-2 showing at the Dan Kolov secured a fifth-place finish for Karadeniz, sandwiching a win against 4x DIII NCAA champion Riley Lefever (USA) between loses to #13 (92) Irakli Mtsituri (GEO) and Ibragim Bolukbasi (TUR). A fruitless showing at the World Cup saw Karadeniz put together an 0-4 record with losses to Dato Marsagishvili (GEO), Lazaro Hernandez (CUB), #4 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) and Atsushi Matsumoto (JPN).
The International Ukrainian Tournament would see Karadeniz rebound from an opening-round loss to #13 Irakli Mtisturi (GEO) to win bronze over #6 (92) Erhan Yaylaci (TUR). 2018 University world runner-up Bendeguez Toth (HUN) would be the man to hand Karadeniz defeat in the semifinals of the Yasar Dogu, with Karadeniz bouncing back to bronze with an 8-0 victory over Viky Viky (IND). Karadeniz's inaugural international title would come at The Ziolkowski Memorial, where he upended returning runner-up Nurgali Nurgaipuly (KAZ) for gold. Concluding 2019 at his first Senior World Championships, Karadeniz would make an immediate impact in his opening match, upsetting returning U-23 world champion Shamil Zubairov (AZE) 7-6 to get a shot at revenge from the World Cup against #4 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS). A big fireman's carry for Zhabrailov would hold off Karadeniz to a 4-3 loss, but the future was bright for the young Turk.
The 2020 92 KG European championships bracket was in no way supposed to be up for the taking of Suleyman Karadeniz. It was supposed to be a chance at redemption for 2017 97 KG world bronze medalist Aslanbek Alborov (AZE), who was a world finals favorite in 2018 after wins over Olympic champions #3 Kyle Snyder (USA) and #12 Sharif Sharifov (AZE), but was upset early by #7 Elizbar Odikadze (GEO). Or it was to be returning world medalist #13 Irakli Mtsituri (GEO) who'd beaten out two-time World/Olympic medalist Dato Marsagishvili (GEO) to win Georgian Nationals. The predictions were in and no one had forecast Karadeniz to win gold. The opinion of pundits didn't matter at all; Karadeniz didn't just win; he dominated. Simone Iannatonni (ITA) was a flawless opening round tech fall, setting up a quarterfinal against Alborov. The powerful Alborov was run roughshod by Karadeniz, who dominated him 11-1 to make the semis. Two past losses to Mtsituri had no negative impact on Karadeniz; if anything, they motivated him more to put on an absolute clinic on the dangerous Mtsituri and pin his way into the finals. Samuel Scherrer (SUI) had become a history maker in being Sweden's first Men's Freestyle European championships finalist, but Karadeniz would deny him being their first champion as he shut out the talented Swede 3-0 for European gold.
A second consecutive Ziolkowski title propelled Karadeniz into the Individual World Cup, where he'd make his return to 97 KG. Facing the reigning world 5x World/Olympic champion #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS) in his opening round match, Karadeniz' typical pressuring style was picked apart by the Russian technical savant in an 8-0 loss. Karadeniz path to medal would be an uphill one as he faced powerful veterans Radoslaw Baran (POL) and #16 Valerii Andriitsev (UKR). Baran was a game but overmatched opponent to Karadeniz, who got past the tough Pole 10-5 to set up a match opposite 2012 Olympic runner-up #16 Valerii Andriitsev (UKR). Andriitsev, notorious for his reputation of hand fight-heavy, low scoring matches, stayed true to himself, limiting the offense of Karadeniz, but the young Turk prevailed for a 2-1 victory and bronze at the 2020 Individual World Cup.
2021 began for Karadeniz with his second foray into the International Ukrainian Tournament. Facing a surprisingly deep field with World/Olympic medalists Elizbar Odikadze (GEO), Albert Saritov (ROU), Valerii Andriitsev (UKR) and Magomed Ibragimov (UZB), Karadeniz would further cement himself as a medal contender in Tokyo. A 10-2 quarterfinal win over returning 2x 92 KG European runner-up Samuel Scherrer set up a semifinals match opposite 2018 world bronze medalist Elizbar Odikadze (GEO). Odikadze, fresh off a win over 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Magomed Ibragimov (UZB), held Karadeniz close early in the match, but it would be Karadeniz who would pull away late to secure his spot in the finals opposite old rival Valerii Andriitsev (UKR). Even closer than their already tentative last meeting, Karadeniz walked away with a razor-thin 1-1 meeting over Andriitsev for gold.
As strong as Karadeniz had been throughout 2020, he still had yet to qualify Turkey for the Olympic Games at 97 KG. Karadeniz's chance to do so would be at the European Olympic qualifier, where wins over #15 Albert Saritov (ROU), #17 Erik Thiele (GER) and Milan Korcsog (HUN) put him in the finals qualifying him for Tokyo. In the finals, he'd faced returning European runner-up #10 Aleksandr Hushtyn (BLR). Hushtyn, a perennial contender for Belarus with excellent reattacks, capitalized on them against Karadeniz and won 4-3 in a close match against the Turk. Karadeniz final competition before Tokyo would be at the European Championships, where looking to capture his second title at his second weight, he made the finals opposite 2019 92 KG bronze medalist #4 Alikhan Zhabrailov (RUS) after wins over #7 Elizbar Odikadze (GEO), Shamil Zubairov (AZE) and U-23 European runner-up Radu Lefter (MDA). Zhabrailov, owner of two past wins over Karadeniz in 2019, added win number three in a tight 6-4 victory for the Russian.
Suleyman Karadeniz is one of the premier up-and-coming contenders in the 97 KG field but faces an uphill battle in Tokyo. While he can best the likes of the old guard in Elizbar Odikadze (GEO), Albert Saritov (ROU) and Magomed Ibragimov (UZB), I see him struggling to cover much ground against the true elites of the weight in the form of #1 Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS), #2 Mohammad Mohammadian (IRI), and #3 Kyle Snyder (USA). Given the right draw, Karadeniz is a lock to medal, but in my opinion, his chances against the big three and breaking through at this point aren't great.
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