Since 1997, women's freestyle has also been contested along with the mentioned wrestling styles.
National teams, including the U.S. team, featured a number of veteran Sambo athletes, along with experienced international wrestlers who have decided to compete in Sambo.
From the 1980s to 2000s saw the period of separation until the 2006, when FILA again took Sambo under its control, and the Pan American Sambo Championships were expected to be included at the 2006 Pan American Wrestling Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The hosts in Brazil had difficulties that prevented the Sambo event to be included in the competition.
Following the inclusion of the Combat Sambo into the Pan American Sambo Championships programme, which isn't exactly a wrestling style, the two championships are being held separately.