Obituary

Famed Germany coach Ostermann passes away

Thursday, August 28, 2025 - 11:54 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 28) -- Heinz OSTERMANN, former head coach of Germany, passed away at the age of 85 in the night of August 26–27, 2025.

Ostermann dedicated more than 25 years of his life as national coach, leading German athletes to 9 Olympic medals, 32 World Championship medals and 60 European Championship medals. Beyond these outstanding achievements, he was known as a mentor and role model for generations of wrestlers.

The German Wrestling Federation will honor his memory with great respect and gratitude. Ostermann will be remembered internationally as one of the most influential German wrestling coaches of his time.

United World Wrestling sends it condolences to the Ostermann family.

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

Thursday, November 28, 2019 - 16:18 By United World Wrestling Press

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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.