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.
 

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UWW 2023 Wrestler of the Year Freestyle Nominees

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 6) — United World Wrestling has released the five nominations for the 2023 Freestyle Wrestler of the Year, which is awarded to the best senior-level freestyle wrestler.

The nominations reflect the results from this year’s World Championships, Continental Championships, Continental Games and Ranking Series events.

 

The five finalist are:

David TAYLOR (USA)
- 2023 86kg world champion 
- Ranked No. 6 in the world with 45000 points

Ismail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
- 2023 65kg world champion 
- Ranked No. 3 in the world with 62520 points

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) 
- 2023 125kg world champion 
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Zagreb Open Ranking Series champion
- Ranked No. 1 in the world with 69000 points

Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN)
- Ranked No. 2 in the world with 45000 points
- 2023 74kg world champion

Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)
- 2023 97kg world champion 
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Kyrgyz Ranking Series champion
- Asian Championships champion
- Ranked No. 1 in the world with 87520 points

The voting for the UWW Wrestler of the Year in Freestyle is open till December 17 and winners will be announced on December 18.