#WrestleZagreb

Lalovic presents UWW Order of Merit to Croatian Prime Minister

Thursday, April 20, 2023 - 21:54 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZAGREB, Croatia (April 20) -- United World Wrestling (UWW) President Nenad LALOVIC presented the UWW Order of Merit to Andrej Plenkovic, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, on Thursday.

The ceremony was held in Zagreb, Croatia, and Vladimir Bregovic, Croatian Wrestling Federation President, was also present for the same.

The Order of Merit was presented in recognition of the successful organization of the European Championships, which is being held in Zagreb, Croatia. The tournament runs from April 17 to 24 in the Croatian capital.

"I am very pleased to present the UWW Order of Merit to Prime Minister Plenkovic and to witness the success of the 2023 European Championships organization," Lalovic said. 

Lalovic also praised the efforts of the Local Organizing Committee, Croatian Wrestling Federation and the Croatian government in ensuring the event is well-organized and a success.

In addition, they discussed the possibility of hosting other high-level wrestling competitions in Croatia in the future. Lalovic expressed his confidence in Croatia's ability to host world-class events and praised the country's rich sporting culture and tradition.

Obituary

Olympian and longtime referee Eberhard Probst passes away

Thursday, February 22, 2024 - 10:11 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 22) -- Two-time world bronze medalist and Olympian Eberhard PROBST from Germany passed away at the age of 69 years.

Probst was born on June 4, 1955, in Querfurt, where he grew up and began wrestling in 1966 at his club the BSG Merseburg. He attended the Children's and Youth Sports School in Halle an der Saale. From 1970 to 1985, Probst collected 17 East German championship titles for the Chemie Halle Sports Club, making him one of the most successful national freestyle wrestling champions all over Germany. 

At the international level, Probst won World Championships bronze medals in 1979 and 1982 while finishing fifth at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He also placed eighth at the 1976 Montreal Games. He also won bronze medals at the European Championships in 1976, 1979 and 1981.

After his active career, Probst began a career as a referee in 1984 and, due to his reserved, factual-calm, and expert manner, also internationally developed into one of the best referees in the world from 1986 onwards.

Probst was nominated for his first Olympic Games as a referee in 2004, the third overall, in Athens. As the only German mat official, he represented Germany at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. At the World Championships in Herning, Denmark, in 2009, he received the Golden Whistle, the highest award for referees by UWW.