The dramatic moment quickly went viral after being shared by United World Wrestling, spreading rapidly across social media and reaching audiences far beyond the wrestling community.
Russian wrestler Islamgereev reveals plan behind his jaw-dropping 'flying squirrel' move (Credit: UWW/X)
At the U23 European Wrestling Championships in Zrenjanin, Russian wrestler Bozigit Islamgereev became an overnight sensation after pulling off a spectacular “flying squirrel” move against France’s Rakhim Magamadov in the dying seconds of their 86kg quarterfinal bout.
The dramatic moment quickly went viral after being shared by United World Wrestling, spreading rapidly across social media and reaching audiences far beyond the wrestling community. The clip amassed millions of views and achieved a level of virality rarely seen for wrestling highlights.
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Rakhim MAGAMADOV thought he is safe…
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But Bozigit ISLAMGEREEV with a buzzer-beating flying squirrel!
Watch the full match on https://t.co/DyIQNCWZcu pic.twitter.com/xhul0AyHFb
— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 10, 2026
“Everyone was shocked. My videos are everywhere now; I can’t even keep up with Instagram anymore. I’m all over the feed,” Islamgereev told UWW. “Everyone congratulated me. People are surprised and asking how this even happened.”
Islamgereev was trailing 8–3 with just 15 seconds remaining in the match, with Magamadov widely considered the favourite to win gold. The Russian first secured a step-out and a caution point to narrow the deficit to 8–5 with only seven seconds left.
With time running out, Islamgereev attempted something extraordinary. As Magamadov crouched low to avoid a double-leg attack, the Russian wrestler suddenly leapt over his opponent, locking him from behind while upside down before slamming him to the mat for four points, completing a stunning comeback.
“There were only a few seconds left when I pushed him out. Then about seven seconds remained,” Islamgereev explained.
“I couldn’t get to his legs at all. Since I couldn’t attack from below, I decided to try from above. In that moment you either take the risk or end up with nothing. I took the risk.”
He also explained the technical side of the move.
“The main thing is to fake an attack to the legs first and trick him. As soon as he leans down, you jump upward so he can’t catch your legs. Then you must land carefully on both feet so you can lift him and score four points.”
The move, popularly known as the “flying squirrel”, has previously been performed by wrestlers such as Ellis Coleman, who famously used it more than a decade ago, as well as Ronaldo Rodriguez Spencer, Talon Tatanappa, and Mohammadali Geraei.
Islamgereev later went on to win the gold medal, defeating Turkey’s Ahmet Yagan 2–1 in the final to become the U23 European champion.
The championship also witnessed a political moment during the 86kg medal ceremony involving Ukrainian wrestler Artur Kostiuk, who had secured the bronze medal.
As the Russian national anthem began playing for Islamgereev’s gold medal victory, Kostiuk staged a silent protest.
The Ukrainian wrestler stepped off the podium and turned his back to the ceremony while the anthem was being played, a gesture widely interpreted as a protest against Russia.
♂️ Silent Protest: Ukrainian Wrestler Turns Away from Russian Anthem
Ukrainian wrestler Artur Kostiuk, during the award ceremony at the European Youth Championship (U23) in Zrenjanin, stepped off the podium and turned away while the Russian anthem was playing.
By the way, the… pic.twitter.com/baP68BFhD3
— Devana (@DevanaUkraine) March 13, 2026
The act gained significant attention online, particularly because the 2026 tournament marked the first official event since 2021 where Russian athletes were allowed to compete under their national flag and anthem instead of as neutral competitors.
Videos of the moment circulated widely on social media, adding another layer of attention to a championship already making headlines for Islamgereev’s spectacular viral move.
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