Obituary

Lee Kun-hee, Former Chairman of Samsung and Friend of Wrestling, Dies at 78

Tuesday, October 27, 2020 - 14:39 By

Share this article
A file photo of chairman of Samsung Electronics Lee Kun Hee seen with his wife Ra-Hee Hong during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Kun Hee died Sunday at the age of 78.

SEOUL (October 27) -- Lee Kun-hee, who build Samsung into a global powerhouse in the 1980's and 1990's has died at his home in Seoul. An honorary member of the IOC and UWW, Mr. Lee had a longstanding commitment to international sport.

According to the IOC, Mr. Lee's sport of preference was wrestling and was President (and later Honorary President) of the Korean Amateur Wrestling Federation from 1982 to 1997. He was also a member of the Korean Olympic Committee and later became Vice-President (1993-1996) then Honorary President.

United World Wrestling and the global wrestling family send their thoughts to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. Lee.

#development

UWW, Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Wrestlers Shine at African Championships

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - 12:34 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (May 7) -- The African Championships in Alexandria, Egypt was another milestone in the United World Wrestling and Olympic Solidarity partnership.

U17, U20 and Senior African Championships were held from April 28 to May 2 and wrestlers with Olympic Solidarity scholarship shining on the mat. The tournament also saw participation of 143 wrestlers in the U17 age-group, making it one of the most highly participated U17 African Championships.

Recipients of the Olympic Solidarity scholarship won eight medals at the continental championships including two in Beach Wrestling.

The most successful wrestler was Kavelishimwe ABRAHAM (NAM) who won silver medal in the 59kg weight class of Women's Wrestling and then the same medal at 60kg in Beach Wrestling. Abraham also created history, becoming first-ever wrestler from Namibia to win silver in Women's Wrestling. She was also the first woman wrestler from Namibia to ever medal internationally when she won the silver medal at the U20 African Championships in 2023. She repeated in 2024 and last week she made history at the senior level.

Lec ANDE (CAF) also won a bronze medal in Women's Wrestling at 65kg. She later returned to Beach Wrestling in the same weight class.

Two more wrestlers won medals in Women's Wrestling. At the U20 level, Lynca NIYONKURU (BDI) won a bronze medal at 59kg while Foula KABA (GUI) managed to claim a silver medal at 57kg at the U17 level.

In Freestyle, Wotna NDOC (GBS) won a silver medal at 70kg while Raby BAPELEKIA (CGO) won a bronze medal at 65kg.