Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov, First Kazakh to Win Olympic Gold, Dies at 69

Monday, August 3, 2020 - 12:49 By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 3) -- Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov, who won Olympic gold for the U.S.S.R in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Moscow Games in 1980, has died. He was 69.

Ushkempirov was the first ethnic Kazakh to win an Olympic gold in wrestling and became a national star following his performance. To honor his achievements, there is an international Junior Greco-Roman wrestling tournament named "Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov" held annually in the nation of Kazakhstan. He was also inducted into the UWW Hall of Fame in 2014.

In addition to his Olympic gold, Ushkempirov was a 1981 World champion, 1980 European silver medallist, USSR Champion (1975,1980), and Honored Master of Sports of USSR (1980).

Ushkempirov also received the Labor of Kazakhstan award as well as the honors of "Barys", "Badge of Honor", "Parasat".

Ushkempirov

#WrestleOslo

WATCH: #WrestleOslo 10 GR Finals Including Olympic Champions Geraei, Vlasov

Monday, October 18, 2021 - 09:17 By United World Wrestling Press

OSLO, Norway (October 18) -- Greco-Roman had the most Tokyo Olympic medalists entered for the World Championships but only one gold medalist -- Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI). He was primed to win the gold in Oslo at 67kg. And he did so in dramatic fashion, coming from behind most times. Roman VLASOV (RWF) also claimed a world title, his first since 2015 which also gave RWF the team title. Iran had four gold medalists and came second in the team title race. Moldova had it's first-ever Greco-Roman world champion as Victor CIOBANU (MDA) claimed the gold at 60kg. Watch all the 10 finals from Oslo

1. GR 55kg - Emin SEFERSHAEV (RWF) vs Ken MATSUI (JPN)

2. GR 60kg - Victor CIOBANU (MDA) vs Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)

3. GR 63kg - Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs Meysam DALKHANI (IRI)

4. GR 67kg - Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) vs Nazir ABDULLAEV (RWF)

5. GR 72kg - Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF) vs Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

6. GR 77kg - Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) vs Roman VLASOV (RWF)

7. GR 82kg - Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) vs Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)

8. GR 87kg - Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) vs Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR)

9. GR 97kg - Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs Alex SZOKE (HUN)

10. GR 130kg - Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RWF) vs Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI)