Rıza Kayaalp is targeting a sixth world title at the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, as the veteran Turkish wrestler continues his pursuit of an elusive Olympic gold medal.
The World Championships will be held Oct. 24-Nov. 1 in the Kazakh capital, where Kayaalp will return to the global stage for the first time since 2023. The 13-time European champion and five-time world champion enters the tournament having already rewritten the record books.
Kayaalp won his 13th European title at the 2026 European Championships in Albania, surpassing Russian wrestling great Aleksandr Karelin's record of 12 European gold medals.
"I am proud that we won our 13th European championship and broke the record," Kayaalp said. "Now it is time for the World Championship. I want to prepare in the best possible way and show my strength there as well."
The 36-year-old has won three Olympic medals, five world titles and 13 European championships during a career that has made him one of the most decorated wrestlers in the sport's history. He has collected 10 medals at the World Championships, including five gold, three silver and two bronze.
His next target is another world title in Astana.
Kayaalp said the World Championships remain an important part of his preparation for his ultimate objective, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"My goal is 100% the Olympics," he said. "I need to compete in these tournaments to keep myself strong on the road to the Olympics. I need to remain involved in wrestling and preserve my strength as I prepare for the Olympics."
Kayaalp said he feels physically strong with about a month remaining before the World Championships, although he plans to make adjustments to his weight and speed.
"I believe I have the strength and power to do it," he said. "I just need to make some adjustments. I need to bring my weight down a little while maintaining my strength and become faster. I think there will be a big difference when I do that."
The Turkish wrestler has won 28 medals across the European, World and Olympic championships, according to his account, and said he intends to approach each bout in Astana as a final.
"Every match will be a final for me," Kayaalp said. "As long as I go out there, fight and win my matches, there should be no problem."
Kayaalp expects another physically demanding tournament after encountering unsporting behavior from opponents at the European Championships in Albania. He said he would be prepared for whatever awaits him in Astana.
"For me, it is actually better to beat the good wrestlers in the group on the first day," he said.
Before turning his attention fully to the World Championships, Kayaalp also competed in the AIGA Global Grappling Series in Istanbul, where he defeated Romania's Alexuc Ciurariu.
He welcomed the growth of wrestling leagues and grappling events, saying they provide athletes with opportunities to compete in front of spectators while also creating additional financial opportunities for wrestlers.
Kayaalp's motivation, however, extends beyond medals and personal records.
The veteran wrestler said his greatest source of motivation is his sense of duty to the Turkish state, which he credits with supporting his development from his early days in the sport.
"I am a different kind of athlete in that respect," Kayaalp said. "I am proud of what I have achieved, but I do not dwell on it. I always look ahead and start again from zero."
He said his objective is to make the most of the opportunities provided to him, represent the Turkish flag with distinction and repay the support he received throughout his career.
"Our goal is to repay the state that took us from the village and raised us as athletes," he said. "The state provides us with these opportunities to achieve success, and we have to give something back in return."
That mindset will also shape his preparation for Los Angeles 2028.
Kayaalp said he plans to follow a more specialized program for the Olympics, potentially including a prolonged diet and a carefully structured training schedule during the final months before the Games.
"I will prepare differently for the Olympics," he said. "Perhaps I will diet for the final eight or nine months. I will organize my performance and training accordingly. I need to prepare very systematically because my biggest dream is to become an Olympic champion. I need to be at the peak of my form there."
Kayaalp also credited President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his longstanding support, saying Erdoğan has regularly followed his competitions and congratulated him after victories.
The wrestler has also stepped outside the mat in recent years, appearing in the historical television series "Mehmed: Fetihler Sultanı."
Kayaalp said acting has been an enjoyable but demanding experience, although balancing it with elite wrestling has proved difficult.
"It turns out I had a little bit of acting in me," he said. "But doing both at the same time is really difficult. We took a bit of a break because the World Championship is coming up. This is my main profession."
He said the production process requires long hours and repeated takes but described the experience as challenging and enjoyable.
Away from competition and television, Kayaalp said being separated from his two daughters, Ay Vera and Beray, is the most difficult part of his training camps.
Following the interview, the wrestler played and trained with his daughters on the mat and raced Ay Vera while climbing a rope.
"I get very sad when we are apart," Kayaalp said. "Even if I am away from them for just one or two days, I think about how quickly these days will pass and how they are growing up."
He acknowledged that the demands of his career require sacrifices but said modern technology helps him remain close to his family during long camps.
"Thankfully, we have video calls, so we manage," he said.
Kayaalp will arrive in Astana seeking to add another chapter to an already remarkable world championship record.
He won his first world title in Istanbul in 2011, followed by gold in Las Vegas in 2015, Paris in 2017, Astana in 2019 and Belgrade in 2022. He also won silver medals in 2013, 2014 and 2023 and bronze medals in 2009 and 2010.
