Obituary

Bendegúz Tóth, Promising Hungarian Freestyle Wrestler, Dies at 22

By United World Wrestling Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 6) -- Bendegúz Tóth, a silver medalist at the 2014 Cadet European championships, died suddenly on Friday during an outdoor training session with his teammates. The cause of death hasn’t been certified, but medical officials at the training session cited sudden heart failure. 
 
Tóth was seen as the centerpiece of Hungary’s growing freestyle wrestling program. He’d won silver medal on the Cadet European Championships in 2014, silver on the U23 European Championships in 2017, and won silver medals in both styles on the University World Championships in 2018. Tóth was also the member of the adult national team and participated on the Senior World Championships in 2019 and on the Senior European Championships in 2020.


“We are deeply pained and words are of no help in expressing the sorrow we feel at this moment,” said Mr Peter Bacsa Bureau Member of UWW and Vice-president of Hungarian Wrestling Federation. “His kind face remains forever in our image. We lost a great person and a fantastic wrestler.”

The Wrestling Federation of Hungary announced that it has also suspended training through next week.

Cuban Wrestling Great, UWW Hall of Famer Gustavo Rolle Fernandez Passes Away

By United World Wrestling Press

Cuban wrestling great Gustavo ROLLE FERNANDEZ, an Honorary Member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame, passed away at the age of 78.

Rolle devoted much of his life to the development of wrestling in Cuba. 

After Rolle's competitive wrestling career was cut short by injury, he served as head coach of Cuba's freestyle wrestling national team from 1965 until 1982. He then took over as President of the Cuban Wrestling Federation, a position he held until 2008.  

Rolle served as Director of National High Performance (1990-1995), President of the Pan American Wrestling Committee (1990-1995) and UWW Bureau Member & Head of Science & Technical Department (1995-2012). He was appointed as UWW Honorary Bureau Member in 2014.

He is the creator of the Granma y Cerro Pelado Tournament, an annual international wrestling event held in Havana, Cuba.