Obituary

Olympic champion Mustafa Dagistanli passes away

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (September 20) -- Two-time Olympic champion and member of the United Wrestling Hall of Fame Mustafa DAGESTANLI (TUR) passed away on Monday. He was 91 years old.

Born in 1931 in Soguroinar village of Carsamba, Turkey, Dagistanli won gold medals at the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games. He was also a three-time world champion with gold medals in 1954, 1957 and 1959.

In the 1956 Melbourne Games, Dagistanli won gold in the 56kg weight class. Four years later in Rome, he jumped up to 62kg and finished on the top of the podium.

Dagistanli made his debut for Turkey in 1953 but quickly became one of the most dominant wrestlers in the world and won the first world title in Tokyo in 1954.
 
In his 320 recorded bouts in Turkey, Dagistanli won 319 out of 320 bouts and 70 out of 73 at the international level. The achievement puts him among the best wrestlers walking on the planet during his active days.

After his retirement, he worked as a coach and was part of the Turkish Wrestling Federation. He also served in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey as the Samsun Deputy of the Justice Party for two terms between 1973-1980 and received the State Distinguished Service Medal.

#WrestleCasablanca

WATCH LIVE: African Championships 2025 Guide

By United World Wrestling Press

CASABLANCA, Morocco (May 3) — The African Championships began on April 29 with U17 age group followed by the U20 competition which was held on Thursday and Friday. The senior African Championships, held on Saturday and Sunday, began with Greco-Roman competition in all 10 weight classes and five Women’s Wrestling weight classes — 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 68kg and 76kg. Freestyle will be held on Sunday in all 10 weight classes. The remaining five Women's Wrestling weight classes -- 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 65kg, and 72kg -- will also be in action.

Watch live matches here — WATCH LIVE

Follow live match order here — LIVE MATCH ORDER

Follow live results here — LIVE RESULTS

List of participants for African Championships — PARTICIPANTS

All brackets for African Championships — BRACKETS

Full schedule of African Championships — SCHEDULE

The Freestyle weight classes and remaining five Women's Wrestling weight classes in action Sunday, May 4.