American Kylie Welker wins third straight U23 world championship

American Kylie Welker celebrates on Thursday night after winning her third straight U23 world championship on Thursday night in Las Vegas. (A.J. Grieves photo courtesy USA Wrestling) 

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Oct. 15, 2026 – American Kylie Welker dominated to win her third U23 world championship on Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. Welker (76 kg) needed just 47 seconds to win her title after scoring a quick takedown against Evelin Ujhelji of Serbia, then securing the leg lace for four turns to lock in the 10-0 technical fall.

In her four matches, Welker shutout her opponents and outscored them 38-0. She posted three technical falls and one pin throughout the tournament.

Welker becomes the first American to win three U23 World titles and the first women’s freestyle wrestler to win them consecutively. Welker joins Greco-Roman wrestler Alexandrin Gutu of Moldova as the only individuals to win three straight U23 World titles.

“It feels pretty special,” Welker said. “It’s always my goal to go out there and do the best I can. Gold is what I strive for, so it feels good.”

Team USA also secured two bronze medals on Thursday night from Morgan Turner (50 kg) and Everest Leydecker (55 kg).

This is the pair’s second age-group World medals of the year after they both medaled at the U20 world championships. Turner won bronze and Leydecker won gold.

Turner and Leydecker will now shift their focus to their third World Championships of the year in the Senior world championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, starting in nine days.