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.

Grand Prix Henri Deglane 2026: Watch Live & Results

By United World Wrestling Press

NICE, France (January 16) -- The historic Grand Prix of France Henri Deglane 2026 returns to Nice for its 52nd edition. The Halle des Sports Charles-Ehrmann, a landmark venue in Nice, will once again host the competition from January 16th to 18th, 2026.
 
The best wrestlers from around the world will gather for three days of intense competition. Women's Wrestling will open the tournament on Friday, January 16.

The French team is fielding a delegation of 11 female wrestlers, 13 registered for freestyle wrestling, and 16 Greco-Roman wrestlers.

Among top stars, the likes of Beau BARLETT (USA), Vasile DIACON (MDA) and Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA) are competing in Freestyle while Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) is at 72kg in Greco-Roman.

For full schedule of 2026 Grand Prix of France Henri Deglane, click here.

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