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'21 Comeback Wrestlers of the Year: Vlasov and Maroulis

Friday, December 10, 2021 - 12:13 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 10) -- Roman VLASOV (RWF) and Helen MAROULIS (USA) have been named United World Wrestling’s ’21 Male/Female Comeback Wrestlers of the Year.

After the Russian Olympic Committee inserted Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RWF) into their Tokyo Olympic lineup at 77kg, Roman Vlasov’s dreams of winning a third consecutive Olympic title were put on hold until the ’24 Paris Olympic Games.

The 31-year-old Russian great put the Tokyo snub in the rearview mirror and captained Russia’s lineup at the Oslo World Championships with renewed vigor. He led his country to the GR team title while reaching the top of the world podium for the third time in his storied career.  

Maroulis was voted UWW’s women’s Comeback Wrestler of the Year.  

After suffering her well-documented brain injury, Maroulis leaped past the physical and mental hurdles en route to winning a Tokyo Olympic bronze medal before capping off her season by adding a third world title to her resume.

Obituary

U.S. Greco-Roman star Alan Vera passes away

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 - 07:21 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 24) -- United States Greco-Roman wrestler and Pan-Am champion Alan VERA (USA) passed away Monday. Vera suffered a sudden cardiac arrest earlier this year and had been hospitalized since then in recovery from his serious health challenges.

Vera was born in Cuba and won a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games and a gold medal at the 2016 Pan American Championships, while competing for Cuba. He immigrated to the United States and lived in Florida for a number of years. He continued to train and compete in Greco-Roman and various international events for a few years.

Vera qualified the U.S. for the Paris Olympics in 97kg at the 2024 Pan-American Olympic Qualification Tournament in Acapulco, Mexico.

Very saddened to hear about Alan Vera’s passing. In my limited time around him he was always willing to help on the mat, and offer a laugh at a terrible joke I made

— Kyle Dake (@kyledake444) September 24, 2024
 

Domestically, Vera claimed his first U.S. national title in 2020, and won four national titles during his career.

Vera was married to Elena PIROZKHOVA (USA), a two-time Olympian and former world champion.

United World Wrestling mourns the death of Vera and stands with the Vera family.