![Mariya Stadnyk throws her quarterfinal opponent Nina Matkowski of Poland during her winning quarterfinal bout at the 2012 London Olympics.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150608141149-european-games-wrestling.jpg?q=w_3600,h_2589,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Mariya Stadnyk throws her quarterfinal opponent Nina Matkowski of Poland during her winning quarterfinal bout at the 2012 London Olympics.
![Azerbaijan is banking on its junior women's wrestling program to produce gold medalists in the future.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150608155802-european-games-wrestling-6.jpg?q=w_1028,h_771,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Azerbaijan is banking on its junior women's wrestling program to produce gold medalists in the future.
![Stadnyk is passing on her experience and skills to the next breed of young woman wrestlers in Azerbaijan.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150608160758-european-games-wrestling-9.jpg?q=w_1085,h_814,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Stadnyk is passing on her experience and skills to the next breed of young woman wrestlers in Azerbaijan.
![Proud Azeri. Stadnyk celebrates her gold medal winning performance in the 2014 European championships.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150609101510-wrestling-social-blast.jpg?q=w_3075,h_2024,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Proud Azeri. Stadnyk celebrates her gold medal winning performance in the 2014 European championships.
![In a traditionally conservative country the growth of young women competitors in a formerly male-dominated sport such as wrestling is considered groundbreaking.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150608160955-european-games-wrestling-10.jpg?q=w_1028,h_771,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
In a traditionally conservative country the growth of young women competitors in a formerly male-dominated sport such as wrestling is considered groundbreaking.
![Taste of success: Toghrul Asgarov claimed gold for Azerbaijan in the men's 60kg freestyle event at the 2012 London Olympics.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150608141433-european-games-wrestling-2.jpg?q=w_2187,h_1458,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Taste of success: Toghrul Asgarov claimed gold for Azerbaijan in the men's 60kg freestyle event at the 2012 London Olympics.
![Young male wrestlers hope to follow in the footsteps of Toghrul Asgarov and Sharif Sharifov in winning gold medals at Olympic and world championship level.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150608160257-european-games-wrestling-8.jpg?q=w_1028,h_771,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Young male wrestlers hope to follow in the footsteps of Toghrul Asgarov and Sharif Sharifov in winning gold medals at Olympic and world championship level.
![Stadnyk grapples with eventual gold medal winner Hitomi Obara in the final of the 48kg freestyle class in London.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150608141729-european-games-wrestling-3.jpg?q=w_4928,h_3280,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Stadnyk grapples with eventual gold medal winner Hitomi Obara in the final of the 48kg freestyle class in London.
![The Azerbaijan women's wrestling team, which will be led by standard bearer Stadnyk, is busy preparing for the upcoming European Games.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150608155532-european-games-wreslting-5.jpg?q=w_1028,h_771,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
The Azerbaijan women's wrestling team, which will be led by standard bearer Stadnyk, is busy preparing for the upcoming European Games.
![The honor of representing Azerbaijan in the inaugural European Games is proving a major incentive to its athletes.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150608155952-european-games-wrestling-7.jpg?q=w_1028,h_771,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
The honor of representing Azerbaijan in the inaugural European Games is proving a major incentive to its athletes.
![Azerbaijan's Sharif Sharifov (right) gets to grips with Puerto Rico's Jaime Yusept Espinal in the final of the men's 84kg freestyle competition at the London Olympics.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150608161237-european-games-wrestling-11.jpg?q=w_2187,h_1458,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Azerbaijan's Sharif Sharifov (right) gets to grips with Puerto Rico's Jaime Yusept Espinal in the final of the men's 84kg freestyle competition at the London Olympics.