Khadzhimurat Gatsalov

Khadzhimurat Soltanovich Gatsalov (Russian: Хаджимурат Солтанович Гацалов, born December 11, 1982 in Chikola, North Ossetia–Alania) is a Russian wrestler of Ossetian descent. As of February 2020, he represents Armenia.

Khadzhimurat Gatsalov

Personal information
Native name	Хаджимурат Солтанович Гацалов
Full name	Khadzhimurat Soltanovich Gatsalov
Nickname(s)	Cruz
Nationality	Russian, Armenian
Ethnicity	Digor - Ossetian
Born	(1982-12-11) 11 December 1982 North Ossetia–Alania, Russia
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	125 kg (276 lb) 96 kg (212 lb)
Sport
Country	Russia
Sport	Wrestling
Event(s)	Freestyle
Club	CSKA Wrestling Club American Kickboxing Academy (formerly)
Coached by	Vladislav Ceboev (1997-)
Medal record Men's Freestyle wrestling Representing  Russia Men's Summer Olympics 2004 Athens Freestyle 96 kg World Championships Budapest 2005 Freestyle 96 kg Guangzhou 2006 Freestyle 96 kg Baku 2007 Freestyle 96 kg Herning 2009 Freestyle 96 kg Budapest 2013 Freestyle 120 kg Moscow 2010 Freestyle 96 kg Tashkent 2014 Freestyle 125 kg European Championships 2003 Riga Freestyle 96 kg 2004 Ankara Freestyle 96 kg 2006 Moscow Freestyle 96 kg 2005 Varna Freestyle 96 kg 2008 Tampere Freestyle 96 kg
Updated on 17 September 2008.

Olympic Champion 2004, Five Times World Champion.

He won the gold medal in the freestyle 96 kg class in the 2004 Summer Olympics, he beat future UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier in the semi-finals. He won five world medals in the 96 kg class at the FILA Wrestling World Championships. In 2013, he moved up to the 120 kg class and won a gold medal at the FILA Wrestling World Championships. He started his senior level competitive career at 84 kg in 2002 before moving up to 96 kg and 120 kg. Khadzhimurat is a devout Sunni Muslim

In 2014, Gatsalov became Cormier's training partner ahead of Cormier's fight against Jon Jones in UFC 182.[1]