Obituary

Hall of Fame Greco-Roman Wrestler Andersson Passes Away

By United World Wrestling Press

Hall of Fame Greco-Roman wrestler Frank Andersson of Sweden, a 1984 Olympic bronze medalist and three-time world champion, passed away on Sunday after complications from heart surgery. He was 62.

Andersson was born in Trollhatten, Sweden, in May 1956. He competed mostly in Greco-Roman, but also had success in freestyle. Andersson represented Sweden at three Olympic Games, competing at 90kg. At the Montreal Games in 1976, he placed fifth in Greco, and seventh in the freestyle competition. In 1980, Andersson placed fourth in Greco at the Moscow Games. In his final Olympic competition, Andersson eared a bronze medal in 1984 at the Los Angeles Games. 

In addition to his Olympic medals, Andersson won five world medals, including world gold medals in 1977, 1979 and 1982. He was a world silver medalist in 1978 and 1981. He was also very successful at the European Championships, claiming gold medals in 1976, 1978, 1979, and 1981, and silver medals in 1977, 1980, and 1982.

Following his amateur wrestling career, Andersson embarked on a professional wrestling career, then starred in several TV shows. 

In 2006, Andersson was welcomed into the World Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame.
 

UWW Bureau Member, World Champion Pelle Svensson Passes Away

By United World Wrestling Press

Pelle SVENSSON (SWE), a former United World Wrestling bureau member and two-time world champion, passed away at the age of 77.

Svensson claimed a silver medal at the 1964 Olympic Games in Greco-Roman competing in the light heavyweight category. He also won a pair of gold medals at the European Championships in 1969 and 1970 before winning world titles in 1970 and 1971.

After his wrestling career, Svensson pursued a career as a lawyer and took on several high-profile criminal cases.

Svensson served as chairman of the Swedish Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1998 and was UWW (then FILA) bureau member from 1990 to 2007.