Obituary

Olympic champion Macha passes away

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 31) -- Olympic champion and United World Wrestling Hall of Fame member Vitezslav MACHA (CZE) passed away on May 29 aged 75.

Macha, born in 1948, was the only Olympic champion from the country as he won the gold medal in Greco-Roman 74kg weight class at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. He had defeated Petros GALAKTOPOULOS (GRE) in the final bout. At the next Olympics in 1976, Macha won a silver medal at the Montreal Games to become a two-time Olympic medalist.

In World Championships, Macha stood on the top of the podium twice -- 1974 in Poland and 1977 in Sweden. His European Championships record includes a gold medal at the 1977 edition and four other medals -- two silver and two bronze.

Macha last competed at the 1980 Olympic Games, finishing sixth, before moving into coaching and even holding the post of President of the Czech Wrestling Federation.

UWW expresses its deepest condolences to the Macha family.

Obituary

Famed Germany coach Ostermann passes away

By United World Wrestling Press

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.