Obituary

Alexander Ivanitsky, Tokyo Games Olympic Champion, Dies at 82

Saturday, July 25, 2020 - 15:35 By United World Wrestling Press

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MOSCOW (July 25) -- Alexander Ivanitsky, who won a gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, was found yesterday after an accidental drowning. He was 82.

According to Ivanitsky's son, the four-time world champion had been missing for two days after leaving for a mushroom hunting trip. It's believed he drowned while trying to cross the Wayne River in the Moscow Region of Russia. A member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame, Ivanitsky was a global figure well-known for his work in the sport after retiring.

A native of Yarovaya, Krasnolimansky, Donetsk (in present day Ukraine), Ivanitsky was one of the most celebrated champions in Soviet Russia. After his wrestling career came to an end Ivanitsky worked at a news channel in charge of its sport department.

"Our community is very sad to hear of Mr. Ivanitsky's passing. He was a great champion with a reputation that young wrestlers admired. Our thoughts are with his family and friends," said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic.

#WrestleParis

Paris Olympics: Five wrestlers to be country's flagbearers at opening ceremony

Friday, July 26, 2024 - 17:48 By United World Wrestling Press

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PARIS (July 26) -- Five wrestlers will be the flag bearers of their respective nations at the opening ceremony at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday.

The opening ceremony parade will take place in boats down the river Seine with Greece opening the parade followed by the Refugee Olympic Team and then the countries in alphabetic order. France, the host, will be the last in the parade. The United States and Australia, hosts for the next two Olympics, will come before France.

Albania's first world champion in wrestling Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) will be the flagbearer for his country. He will wrestle in the 57kg weight class.

For Puerto Rico, world silver medalist in 65kg Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) will be the flagbearer alongside Jasmine Camacho-Quinn from Athletics.

Rckaela AQUINO (GUM)Rckaela AQUINO (GUM) of Guam. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Guam has given the responsibility to its first-ever female wrestler Rckaela AQUINO (GUM). She will be wrestling in the 57kg weight class.

Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) will be the flagbearer for Guinee-Bissau at the opening ceremony. He wrestled in Tokyo at 57kg and will perform in Paris in the same weight class.

Honduras has given the responsibility to its first-ever Greco-Roman wrestler Kevin MEJIA (HON).

Wrestling begins on August 5 in Paris and ends on August 11.