Chamizo had a trying childhood. He grew up in poverty and was raised by his grandmother because both his parents lived abroad.[7] He began wrestling at age seven after walking into a wrestling facility out of curiosity.[7] The Cuban government eventually recognized his talent and helped him attend a secondary school where he could continue wrestling.[1] In addition to his native
Spanish, Chamizo is fluent in
Italian and can also speak
English.
Career in Cuba
In 2010, Chamizo won a
worldbronze medal for
Cuba; he was only 18 at the time. The next year, he returned to the
world championships, where he placed 12th. After the
2011 World Wrestling Championships, however, Cuba's wrestling federation suspended him for two years for alleged difficulties with weight management.[7] At a crossroads, he moved to
Italy, where his ex-wife is from.
Career in Italy
In 2015, Chamizo made his
world debut for
Italy and won a
gold medal. Before then, no Italian had won a
world or
Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medal since
1980.
At the 2022 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, he won the bronze medal by defeating Soner Demirtaş 5-3 in the men's freestyle 74 kg third-place match, but his medal was canceled due to doping and given to Soner Demirtaş. He was only suspended for three months.[8]
He won the silver medal at the 2023 European Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, losing 3-1 to Tajmuraz Salkazanov of Slovakia in the men's freestyle 74 kg final match. He reached the final by defeating Dzhabrail Gadzhiev of Azerbaijan 9-4 in the second round, Soner Demirtaş 8-6 in the quarterfinals, and Ali-Pasha Umarpashaev of Bulgaria 9-0 in the semifinals.[9]
Chamizo competed at the
2024 European Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan hoping to qualify for the
2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.[10] He was eliminated in his fourth match and he did not qualify for the Olympics due to controversial judging.[10] Several days later Chamizo claimed he was offered a bribe of 300 thousand dollars to deliberately lose a match, an offer that he rejected.[11] Weeks after the tournament, the refereeing body that officiated the match were suspended by the
UWW, however, the result could not be changed.[12]
Chamizo had a trying childhood. He grew up in poverty and was raised by his grandmother because both his parents lived abroad.[7] He began wrestling at age seven after walking into a wrestling facility out of curiosity.[7] The Cuban government eventually recognized his talent and helped him attend a secondary school where he could continue wrestling.[1] In addition to his native
Spanish, Chamizo is fluent in
Italian and can also speak
English.
Career in Cuba
In 2010, Chamizo won a
worldbronze medal for
Cuba; he was only 18 at the time. The next year, he returned to the
world championships, where he placed 12th. After the
2011 World Wrestling Championships, however, Cuba's wrestling federation suspended him for two years for alleged difficulties with weight management.[7] At a crossroads, he moved to
Italy, where his ex-wife is from.
Career in Italy
In 2015, Chamizo made his
world debut for
Italy and won a
gold medal. Before then, no Italian had won a
world or
Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medal since
1980.
At the 2022 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, he won the bronze medal by defeating Soner Demirtaş 5-3 in the men's freestyle 74 kg third-place match, but his medal was canceled due to doping and given to Soner Demirtaş. He was only suspended for three months.[8]
He won the silver medal at the 2023 European Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, losing 3-1 to Tajmuraz Salkazanov of Slovakia in the men's freestyle 74 kg final match. He reached the final by defeating Dzhabrail Gadzhiev of Azerbaijan 9-4 in the second round, Soner Demirtaş 8-6 in the quarterfinals, and Ali-Pasha Umarpashaev of Bulgaria 9-0 in the semifinals.[9]
Chamizo competed at the
2024 European Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan hoping to qualify for the
2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.[10] He was eliminated in his fourth match and he did not qualify for the Olympics due to controversial judging.[10] Several days later Chamizo claimed he was offered a bribe of 300 thousand dollars to deliberately lose a match, an offer that he rejected.[11] Weeks after the tournament, the refereeing body that officiated the match were suspended by the
UWW, however, the result could not be changed.[12]