Obituary

Lee Kun-hee, Former Chairman of Samsung and Friend of Wrestling, Dies at 78

By

SEOUL (October 27) -- Lee Kun-hee, who build Samsung into a global powerhouse in the 1980's and 1990's has died at his home in Seoul. An honorary member of the IOC and UWW, Mr. Lee had a longstanding commitment to international sport.

According to the IOC, Mr. Lee's sport of preference was wrestling and was President (and later Honorary President) of the Korean Amateur Wrestling Federation from 1982 to 1997. He was also a member of the Korean Olympic Committee and later became Vice-President (1993-1996) then Honorary President.

United World Wrestling and the global wrestling family send their thoughts to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. Lee.

Obituary

Olympic champ Ogan passes away at 89

By United World Wrestling Press

COSIER-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 29) --- İsmail OGAN (TUR), the two-time Olympic medalist and 1964 Tokyo Olympic champion, passed away earlier this week. He was 89 years old.

Ogan was born on March 5, 1933, in the Macun Village, Aksu District of Antalya, Turkey. He began his storied wrestling career in 1950 under the tutelage of trainers Yaşar DOGU (TUR) and Celal ATIK (TUR).

Olgan quickly made a name for himself in the wrestling world, winning three world medals and gold and silver medals at the Olympic Games. He started his impressive international career with a silver-medal finish at the 1957 Istanbul World Championships. Two years later, he won a second medal on the world stage, claiming bronze at the 1959 Tehran World Championships.

A year later, Olgan won a silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games after falling to American Douglas BLUGAUGH in the 73kg finals. But Olgan saved his most impressive performance for the final competition of his career, the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. He defeated two-time world champion Guliko SAGARADZE (USSR) and improved his Rome Olympic silver to a Tokyo Olympic gold.

After retiring from wrestling following the 1964 Games, Olgan continued to give back to the wrestling community by coaching young Turkish athletes.