#WrestleOttawa

Update on the Pan-American Olympic Qualification Tournament

Friday, March 13, 2020 - 15:48 By United World Wrestling Press

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OTTAWA, Canada (March 13) – United World Wrestling, in cooperation with the Canadian government, health authorities, and Wrestling Canada Lutte have taken additional preventative measures to minimize the risk of spread of the COVID-19 virus at this weekend’s Pan Am Olympic Qualification tournament. 

As a precaution, the Pan Am Olympic Qualifiers will now be closed to spectators and will only include team members, essential staff and limited family. The tournament is a continuation of last weekend’s Pan Am Championships, which were successfully held without incident.

These decisions have been made in the best interest of fans, athletes, coaches, officials and staff. United World Wrestling and Wrestle Canada will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as they are necessary to protect our athletes. 

Ticket refunds will issued by Wrestle Canada in the coming days.

Obituary

Olympic champion Macha passes away

Wednesday, May 31, 2023 - 09:40 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 31) -- Olympic champion and United World Wrestling Hall of Fame member Vitezslav MACHA (CZE) passed away on May 29 aged 75.

Macha, born in 1948, was the only Olympic champion from the country as he won the gold medal in Greco-Roman 74kg weight class at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. He had defeated Petros GALAKTOPOULOS (GRE) in the final bout. At the next Olympics in 1976, Macha won a silver medal at the Montreal Games to become a two-time Olympic medalist.

In World Championships, Macha stood on the top of the podium twice -- 1974 in Poland and 1977 in Sweden. His European Championships record includes a gold medal at the 1977 edition and four other medals -- two silver and two bronze.

Macha last competed at the 1980 Olympic Games, finishing sixth, before moving into coaching and even holding the post of President of the Czech Wrestling Federation.

UWW expresses its deepest condolences to the Macha family.