Obituary

Referee Thomas Martin Hyllegaard Passes Unexpectedly at Age 37

Tuesday, August 25, 2020 - 12:47 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 25) -- We are sad to announce the sudden death of United World Wrestling category I referee, Thomas Martin Hyllegaard, who was taken from us Saturday, August 22.

Thomas lived his early years in the Danish city of Frederikshavn, where he started wrestling at the age of 10. His life has since revolved around wrestling. As a young man, he was wrestling in the Danish Capitol city of Copenhagen while attending the Danish Police academy.

In 2008, Thomas attended the quadrennial European Games for Police officers, where he placed 7th. He took up refereeing the same year which he excelled at, quickly reaching the top tiers of international refereeing. Thomas stood firm at his goal – he wished to referee at the Olympic Games.

He worked tirelessly for the advancement of the Danish referees. Thomas led a successful campaign recruiting young referees as well as conveying and translating the latest rules from United World Wrestling.

Thomas is survived by his wife and two young sons, ages 8 and 6.

Obituary

Russian Olympic Silver Medalist Gennady Strakhov Passes Away Due to COVID-19 Complications

Thursday, February 11, 2021 - 16:10 By United World Wrestling Press

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Gennady STRAKHOV, an Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling for the Soviet Union, passed away due to complications caused by COVID-19. He was 76 years old.

Strakhov reached the finals of the 1972 Olympics in Munich where he faced Ben PETERSON (USA). The match ended in tie, but Peterson was awarded the gold medal based on having more falls than Strakhov. 

Prior to winning an Olympic silver medal, Strakhov claimed a gold medal at the 1970 World Championships, along with European titles in 1969 and 1972. 

The Russian Wrestling Federation (FSBR) released a statement on Strakhov's passing. 

"The Russian Wrestling Federation, athletes and coaches of national teams in women's and men's freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling sincerely condole with the family and friends of Gennady -- we deeply mourn with you."