Identifying success factors (physical, physiological and psychological ones) as well as establishing physical and psychological profiles, wrestling-specific fitness and other elements contributing to wrestling performance would be beneficial to coaches as they would be capable of planning wrestlers` training according to their competitive level, style and weight class. This study sought to develop fitness profiles of successful and less successful wrestlers taking account of their wrestling styles, weight classes and performance in tournaments. The study included 62 male Greco-Roman wrestlers and 66 male freestyle wrestlers. All of the study participants were either successful wrestlers (they won medals in Polish Senior Championships and other major sporting events) or less successful ones (they placed 5th to 8th in the above-mentioned competitions). The following parameters were assessed: dynamic strength, strength endurance, agility, wrestling-specific fitness and special endurance. Fitness profiles of successful and less successful wrestlers proved to be different. The differences were less evident in lightweight competitors. To identify factors determining success (winning a medal), logistic regression was applied. It was shown that differences occurred in heavyweight wrestlers only, and they were noted in agility, wrestling-specific fitness and special endurance. Wrestlers` fitness profiles differ in terms of wrestling styles and weight classes. When it comes to developing motor abilities in wrestlers (regardless of their styles and weight classes), it is necessary to put emphasis on dominant components of physical fitness in the first place. Identification of indices of physical fitness in successful wrestlers (medal winners) may constitute the basis for rationalisation of the training process in wrestling. It ought to be borne in mind when selecting training means oriented at improving dominant components of motor profiles of wrestlers.
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