#ThrowBackThursday

#TBT​: Burroughs Blasts His Way to First of Four World Titles

Thursday, February 25, 2021 - 15:41 By Eric Olanowski

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Jordan BURROUGHS ?? battled his way to a two-period-to-none victory over Sadegh GOUDARZI ?? in the ’11 74kg world finals and reached the top of the world podium for the first time in his career. The eventual four-time world champion’s win in Istanbul, Turkey, ended a five-year USA world title drought. Can you name the USA's last world champion before Burroughs' win in '11?

You can catch Burroughs back in action March 4-7 at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Matteo Pellicone ??.

’11 World Championship Scores:
- Dmytro ROCHNIAK ?? (3-1, 4-2)
- Denis TSARGUSH ?? (1-3, 1-0, 2-1)
- Ricardo ROBERTY ?? (2-1, 1-0) |
- Sadegh GOUDARZI ?? (3-2, 4-1)

Obituary

U.S. Greco-Roman star Alan Vera passes away

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 - 07:21 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 24) -- United States Greco-Roman wrestler and Pan-Am champion Alan VERA (USA) passed away Monday. Vera suffered a sudden cardiac arrest earlier this year and had been hospitalized since then in recovery from his serious health challenges.

Vera was born in Cuba and won a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games and a gold medal at the 2016 Pan American Championships, while competing for Cuba. He immigrated to the United States and lived in Florida for a number of years. He continued to train and compete in Greco-Roman and various international events for a few years.

Vera qualified the U.S. for the Paris Olympics in 97kg at the 2024 Pan-American Olympic Qualification Tournament in Acapulco, Mexico.

Very saddened to hear about Alan Vera’s passing. In my limited time around him he was always willing to help on the mat, and offer a laugh at a terrible joke I made

— Kyle Dake (@kyledake444) September 24, 2024
 

Domestically, Vera claimed his first U.S. national title in 2020, and won four national titles during his career.

Vera was married to Elena PIROZKHOVA (USA), a two-time Olympian and former world champion.

United World Wrestling mourns the death of Vera and stands with the Vera family.