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

Share this article

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."
 

Kirsty Coventry elected 10th IOC President

Saturday, March 22, 2025 - 21:49 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

COSTA NAVARINO, Greece (March 21) -- Kirsty Coventry has been elected the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee.

The 41-year-old Zimbabwean was chosen in a secret ballot of seven candidates at the 144th IOC Session being held in Costa Navarino, Greece, on Thursday (20 March), for an eight-year term of office.

President-elect Coventry replaces outgoing President Thomas Bach, who was first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2021. She received 49 votes in the first round, exactly the number required for a majority from the 97 votes cast.

She will be the first woman and the first African to serve as IOC President. "I'm very proud to call myself a Zimbabwean and to have grown up there, for my mum to have been born there, my grandmother," she told Olympics.com afterwards. "And, [my message] to Africa: this is our time."

President-elect Coventry will assume office after the handover from President Bach on Olympic Day, 23 June. President Bach, who remains in the role until then, will also resign as an IOC Member after the transfer of power and will then assume the role of Honorary President.

Read full news on Olympics.com