Zahid Valencia captures Gold Medal at 2025 Wrestling World Championships

Zahid Valencia finally climbed the wrestling mountain, capturing a Gold Medal at the 2025 World Championships Sunday. Representing Team USA and the Cowboy RTC, Valencia rolled his way to a dominating tournament at 86 KG, winning the top prize for the first time.

A two-time NCAA champion at Arizona State, Valencia recently transitioned to Oklahoma State’s room, training at the Cowboy RTC. Led by new head coach David Taylor, who had a major impact on Oklahoma State in his first season (2024-25), Valencia found a new gear.

After capturing the 86 KG spot in June at Final X, Valencia focused solely on the World Championships. Now, he’s a champion.

“It’s been awesome,” Valencia said, via USA Wrestling. “I’ve been faced with so much adversity throughout the years, but I feel like I was courageous enough to keep going, make the sacrifice to make the move. And, you know, just, I’m so proud of myself going through adversity, and you know, all the work that I’ve done. 

“This isn’t just my world championship, it’s more than that. It’s the people behind me that supported me, my family, my friends, my coaches, teammates, sponsors, just everyone, my fans, anyone that supported me. They have a percentage of this, of this gold medal in this world championship. So I’m just very grateful (and honored) to be part of this and part of Team USA.”

Valencia won his first three matches by 10-0 technical superiority, rolling into the semifinals. There, he wont 7-0 to punch his ticket to the finals.

In the World Finals, Valencia beat Japan’s Hayato Ishiguro 12-0 in just 4:22 of a six minute match, winning Gold. It was an insanely dominant performance.

A World Bronze Medalist in 2023 at 92 KG, Valencia dropped to 86 KG this time around and faced Kyle Dake, who moved up two weight classes this cycle, to qualify for the team this summer. The difference this time? Valencia’s development under Taylor in the Oklahoma State wrestling room. 

Valencia beat Dake 8-4 in the US Open Finals back in April to clinch his spot in Final X in Newark. With Dake winning the World Team Trials challenge tournament, the two squared off for the spot once again.

Valencia won Match 1, 5-3 and then 4-1 in Match 2 to sweep the series. He was one of two Cowboy RTC athletes to clinch a spot on Team USA and represent for the World Championships.

Valencia was 115-3 during his time at Arizona State, winning the 174 pound NCAA title in 2018 and ‘19 over fellow champ Mark Hall (Penn State). Valencia was third in 2017, finishing his career as a three-time All-American.