CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (May 26)– United World Wrestling, the international governing body for the sport of wrestling, has named 15 former wrestlers, coaches, officials and community members to their 2016 Hall of Fame class.

The class will be presented on August 12 in Rio De Janeiro preceding the start of the wrestling competition at the 2016 Olympic Games.

The Hall of Fame class will include one Order of Merit recipient, two Leadership recipients, one Officials recipient, two Coaching recipients, two Female freestyle recipients, three Men’s freestyle recipients, and four Greco-Roman recipients.

“I want to thank our Hall of Fame Commission and wrestling vice president Stan Dziedzic for their work in selecting the honorees for the Hall of Fame Class of 2016,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. “This is the 13th anniversary of the Hall of Fame and this class pays special tribute to individuals in our sport with legacies of excellence which are worthy of recognition and preservation.”

Wrestlers from 11 countries are represented in the class with a total of 7 individual Olympic gold medals and 17 individual World Championship titles included in their combined accomplishments.

“This year's ceremony is special for me,” said Dziedzic. “Bill Farrell was my coach at the NYAC and I was the USA National Coach when Dave Shultz won his '83 World title and '84 Olympic Gold Medal.”

“Also this year we added 'The Order of Merit’ which will go to Dr. Harold Tünneman who has become a fixture in our sport, helping to advance wrestling’s scientific progress for more than 50 years. Dr. Tünneman is a deserving first inductee.”

United World Wrestling will host the 2016 Hall of Fame inductions at the: Nautical Club in Mandala Condominium Av. Pref. Dulcidio Cardoso 777, Barra Da Tijuca, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. For more information about the induction ceremonies and to view all United World Wrestling Hall of Fame inductees please visit www.UnitedWorldWrestling.org

Official

Rick TUCCI (USA): Officiated eight Olympic Games. International Instructor from 1990-2012. Officiated 75 World Championships at the Senior, Junior, and Cadet levels. Presented FILA Golden Whistle in 1988. Awarded two FILA Gold Stars. President of USA Wrestling Officials Association since 1986. 

Coach

William “Bill” FARRELL (USA): Posthumous. New York Athletic Club President and Coach. Coach of 1972 USA Freestyle Olympic Team and medalists Dan Gable, Wayne Wells, and Ben Peterson. Coached 13 time World and Olympic medalist Bruce Baumgartner.

Victor KUZNETSOV (RUS): Coached three-time Olympic Champion Alexander KARELIN and 2012 Olympic Champion Roman VLASOV.

Leadership

Manuel ANDRADE y RODRIGUEZ (MEX): Mexican Wrestling President 1972-1980. FILA Bureau Member 1978-1982. FILA Vice President 1980-1982. Department Head of Olympic Games in Mexico City 1968.

Joe SCALZO (USA): Posthumous. FILA Vice President. Founder and Organizer of FILA World Cup in 1973 and hosted the first 13 World Cups in the USA. Organizer of 1962 and 1966 World Championships.

Female Wrestler

Ine BARLIE (NOR): World Champion 1987 and ’92. World Silver medalist 1989 and ’91. World Bronze medalist 1990.

Martine DUGRENIER (CAN): World Champion 2008, ’09, and ’10. World Silver medalist 2005, ’06, and ’07.

Greco-Roman Wrestler 

Anatoli KOLESSOV (RUS): Olympic Champion 1964. World Champion 1962, ’63, and ’65.

Hector MILIAN (CUB): Olympic Champion 1992. World Champion 1991. World Silver medalist 1993, ’95, and ’99. World Bronze medalist 1997.

Stefan RUSU (ROM): Olympic Champion 1980. Olympic Silver medalist 1976. Olympic Bronze medalist 1984. World Champion 1978 and ’82. World Silver medalist 1985. World Bronze medalist 1981.

Janos VARGA (HUN): Olympic Champion 1968. World Champion 1963 and ’70. World Silver medalist 1961 and 67. World Bronze medalist 1962 and ’71. 

Men’s Freestyle Wrestler

David GOEDISHVILLI (GEO): Olympic Champion 1988. World Silver medalist 1986. Olympic Bronze medalist 1992. World Champion 1985 and ’90.

Jang-soon PARK (KOR): Olympic Champion 1992. Olympic Silver medalist 1988 and ’96. World Champion 1993.

Dave SCHULTZ (USA): Posthumous. Olympic Champion 1984. World Champion 1983. World Silver medalist 1985, ’87, and ’93. World Bronze medalist 1982 and ’86.

Order of Merit

Dr. Harold TÜNNEMANN (Germany): Sport scientist involved with international wrestling since 1973. Currently a member of United World Wrestling scientific commission and head of video analysis team. Author of more than 200 articles and the book “Fitness and Strength Training” which has been translated into five languages. Editor of 60+ pedagogical Olympic and world championship highlight videos. Helped produce groundbreaking ‘Wrestling Database” with Dr. Hartmut Sandner. Competition management support at 11 Olympics and 200+ continental and world championships.