Obituary

Daniel Robin, Double Olympic Silver Medalist and Hall of Fame Wrestler, Dies at 74

By Tim Foley

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 24) – Hall of Fame wrestler Daniel ROBIN (FRA), who won two silver medals at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, died Wednesday at the age of 74.

A native on Bron, France (near Lyon) Robin became France’s first first world champion wrestler in 1967. At the 1968 Olympic Games Robin earned silver medals in Greco-Roman and freestyle, both at welterweight. He is the only wrestler to ever earn two silver medals at the same Olympic Games.

Following his career on the mat, Robin became head national team coach for France and later vice-president of the French Wrestling Federation. After retirement Robin began working with FILA and United World Wrestling as a technical delegate. In 2010 Robin was named to the organizing committee of the 2012 London Olympics as director of the wrestling operations.

Robin was inducted into the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.

“Daniel was a great champion of our sport and his passion for wrestling was everlasting,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC. “As a person he touched the lives of many through kindness and his willingness to share how wrestling had such a positive impact on his life. My condolences go out to his family during this time.”

Robin was the in-house French announcer at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and was the technical delegate for the 2018 Commonwealth Games last month in Gold Coast, Australia.

Wrestlers from around the world remembered Robin with fondness Wednesday, remarking on his positive attitude and passion for developing the sport.

“Daniel Robin was an ambassador for wrestling and his commitment to improving the sport never stopped, he was actively involved with young wrestlers. His accomplishment as a double Olympic silver medallist depicts his passion for the sport in a feat that is one of a kind,” said Secretary General Michel DUSSON.

“He devoted his life to wrestling and was an accomplished champion but more over a great friend. He will be dearly missed, and my thoughts are with his family.”

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.