Development

Hungary Announces Significant New Investment, Expansion of Wrestling Opportunities

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (October 1) -- The National Wrestling Federation of Hungary recently announced a significant financial investment in their national program aimed at increasing nationwide participation, optimizing top talent, and expanding their coaching pool.

The focus of the new initiative is the nine mat, two floor Kozma Istvan Hungarian Wrestling Academy, which will provide year-round training for wrestlers between the ages of 14-18. Selected cadet and junior wrestlers will live in a dormitory combined with the wrestling center with additional junior and U23 wrestlers visiting for national and international training camps.
 


The wrestling hall opened earlier this month, with the dormitory scheduled to open in 2022.

"This is a huge milestone. We are focused on providing a great opportunity for young wrestlers to prepare in the best conditions and continue to improve on the strong traditions and results of our nation," said UWW Bureau Member and Hungarian National Federation vice-president Peter Bacsa.

"The facility also helps us during the pandemic as we are able to train under stringent safety regulations."


The academy will also serve as an international wrestling center for Olympic Solidarity programs and regional training center aligned with the goals of United World Wrestling the International Olympic Committee.

To meet the ambitious goals of the center, the national federations has recruited three highly qualified coaches to serve. Diletta GIAMPICCOLO will serve as Hungary's first-ever full-time women's national team coach. A 2004 Olympian, Giampiccolo will oversee all age groups and work at the wrestling center. Giampiccolo is being supported by UWW and IOC Olympic Solidarity scholarship for coaches beneficiary at the WSLA programme.

#WrestlePontevedra

Wrestling legend Medved, three-time Olympic champion, passes away aged 86

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 2) -- Aleksandr MEDVED, the most successful Freestyle wrestler with 10 Olympic and World Championships gold medals, died on Monday aged 86 years.

Medved made his international debut at the 1961 World Championships, where he won bronze in the 87kg weight class. A year later, he jumped to 97kg and won the gold medal at the World Championships.

Barring 1965, Medved won all the World Championships gold medals from 1962 to 1971, majorly competing in the +100kg. He was considered small for the weight class, yet he dominated it for more than a decade.

Apart from winning seven gold medals, Medved also won a silver medal (1965) and a bronze medal (1961) at the World Championships.

Aleksandr  MEDVEDAleksandr  MEDVED as a referee in a wrestling bout. (Photo: IMAGO / ITAR-TASS)

"The passing of Aleksandr saddens us," United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC said. "He was an ambassador of our sport and his achievements show that the world regarded him as the best."

"It's a great loss to the wrestling world and we are with the Medved family in this time of grief."

Medved won his first Olympic gold medal in 1964 at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the 97kg weight class. He repeated as the Olympic champion in the +97kg at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, beating Osman DURALIEV (BUL). The two met in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games in the +100kg final and Medved defeated Duraliev again to win his third Olympic gold medal.

He also has three European Championships titles as well.

After retiring from the sport, Medved was actively involved in coaching. He was inducted into the UWW Hall of Fame in 2003.

United World Wrestling expresses its condolences to the Medved family.