Obituary

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

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

Share this article

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

#UnitedWorldWrestling

Lise Legrand, former world champion, elected CNOSF board member

Friday, September 15, 2023 - 11:35 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

PARIS (September 15) -- Lise LEGRAND (FRA), a former world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, has joined the Board of Directors of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF).

The 47-year-old former wrestler was an Olympic bronze medalist in the 63kg weight class at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the first Games in which women's wrestling featured. She finished fifth at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

Apart from the Olympic medal, Legrand, vice-president of the French Federation of Wrestling, is also a two-time World champion, winning gold in 1995 and 1997. She has two more medals from the World Championships, silver in 2002 and bronze in 1996.

In the European Championships, Legrand is a four-time gold medalist, two-time silver medalist and a four-time bronze medalist.

United World Wrestling congratulates Legrand for her appointment.