YoungestToOldest

From Teens to 40-Somethings: The Youngest and Oldest Gold Medalists in Olympic History (Part I: Freestyle)

Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 16:49 By Ikuo Higuchi

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(This is the first of a three-part series that appeared on the Japan Wrestling Federation website. It was translated for UWW by Ken Marantz.)

With wrestling currently on hold along with the rest of world sports and looking for a distraction, I started to wonder about the Tokyo Olympics, which have been postponed for a year. Would that have any affect on the records for youngest- and oldest-ever Olympic champions in history each of the three styles? 

What put that subject into my head was a story I had read on an American media website. In the report, it speculated that the Tokyo Games might produce the oldest gold medalist in Olympic wrestling history. But what struck me most was that the information cited didn't sound right to me. The ages seemed off. 

So, with perhaps a bit too much time on my hands, I set out to confirm my suspicions and researched the ages of every Olympic wrestling gold medalist in history. The results were quite fascinating, and enabled me to come up with top 15 lists for both ends of the age spectrum in all three styles. Today I will start with freestyle.

First-Ever Teen Grabs a Gold
There have been 198 gold medals awarded in freestyle wrestling in Olympic history since wrestling first appeared at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics. The champions have been mostly in their 20s, with a fair number in their 30s. But there has been the rare teenager, and the even rarer 40-something to make it to the top step of the podium. 

The youngest in history in freestyle has been Saban TRSTENA (YUG), who may have competed for a country that no longer exists but left his name in the record books when he won the 52kg gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics at the tender age of 19 years 7 months 9 days. 

Trstena had gone into the Los Angeles Games riding high from a victory in the final of that year's European Championships over reigning world champion Valentin JORDANOV (BUL), who has his own place in wrestling history (more on that later).  Trstena's triumph in L.A. made him the first teenager in Olympic history in either style to win a gold. 

En route to the gold, Trstena knocked off Yuji TAKADA (JPN), the 1976 gold medalist who was unable to defend his title at the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of the U.S.-led boycott. Takada, a four-time world champion, is now executive director of the Japan Wrestling Federation. Trstena's connection with Japan, however, was not finished--at the Seoul Olympics four years later, he would lose in the final to Mitsuru SATO (JPN). 

One one other teenager has ever won an Olympic crown. Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) was a little more than one month shy of his 20th birthday when he captured the 60kg gold at the 2012 London Olympics. While young, he was not unknown going into London, having won the world junior gold the previous year and the European senior title five months before the Olympics. In the third round in London, he eked out a 2-0 (1-0, 2-2) win over 2008 silver medalist Kenichi YUMOTO (JPN).

Four years later, Asgarov was denied a second straight gold at the 2016 Rio Games when he lost in the 65kg final to Soslan RAMONOV (RUS). After falling out of the spotlight following that defeat, local media has reported he will aim to qualify for Tokyo at 74kg. 

Looking at the other end of the timeline, it had been reported that Jordanov became the oldest freestyle champion in Olympic history when he won the 52kg gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics at a spry 36 years 6 months 7 days. But this was a mistake. On the day Arsen MEKOKISHVILI (URS) won the over-87kg gold at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, the Soviet wrestler was 40 years 3 months 11 days. In fact, Jordanov is third on the all-time list.

It is worth noting that the rules have changed regarding weigh-ins, which could affect the performance of older wrestlers. Having just a single weigh-in, on the first day of competition, might be to a veteran's advantage, as they might have more trouble with weight control. 

At Olympics that had weigh-ins over a span of two or more days, Sergei BELOGLAZOV (URS) takes the honor as oldest-ever champion by winning the 57kg gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics 14 days after his 32nd birthday. Limiting it further to Games which had multiple weigh-ins on the mornings of competition days, Mirian ZALKALAMANIDZE (URS) was the oldest, having been 29 years 7 months 8 days at the time of his victory at 52kg at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

As world wrestling has recently returned to the latter system, it will make a gold-medal performance by a 30-something wrestler even more noteworthy. One candidate might be Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB), who won the 2018 world title in Budapest at 61kg at the age of 34 years 11 months 9 days, although it is not certain he will be on the team to Tokyo.

Looking at the Top 15 lists, one wrestler makes both. Bouvaisa SAITIEV (RUS) occupies the No. 13 spot among youngest-ever with his 1996 Atlanta gold, and ranks 11th among the oldest in history after striking gold again 12 years later in Beijing. 

TOP 15 YOUNGEST OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (FREESTYLE)

    Name                                                        Age                               Olympics               Wt.    Date of birth (Yr/Mo/Day)

1. Saban TRSTENA (YUG)                    19 years 7 months 9 days        1984 Los Angeles       52kg     1965/01/01

2. Togrul ASGAROV (AZE)                    19 years 10 months 25 days    2012 London              60kg    1992/09/17

3. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)         20 years  3 months 11 days     2016 Rio de Janeiro   86kg    1996/05/09

4. Sanasar OGANESYAN (URS)            20 years  5 months 24 days    1980 Moscow             90kg    1960/02/05

5. Mavlet BATIROV (RUS)                     20 years  8 months 16 days     2004 Athens              55kg    1983/12/12

6. Magomedgasan ABUSHEV (URS)     20 years  8 months 19 days    1980 Moscow             62kg    1959/11/10

7. Kyle SNYDER (USA)                          20 years  9 months 1 day        2016 Rio de Janeiro   97kg    1995/11/20

8. Henry CEJUDO (USA)                       20 years  11 months 17 days   2008 Beijing              55kg    1987/09/02

9. Il KIM (PRK)                                       21 years  0 months 11 days     1992 Barcelona          48kg    1971/07/25

10. Bakhtiar AKMEDOV (RUS)              21 years  0 months 16 days     2008 Beijing              120kg   1987/08/05

11. George DE RELWYSKOW (GBR)    21 years  1 month 6 days         1908 London             66.6kg   1887/06/18

12. Mitsuo IKEDA (JPN)                         21 years  1 month 17 days       1956 Melbourne          73kg    1935/10/14

13. Bouvaisa SAITIEV (RUS)                  21 years  0 months 11 days     1996 Atlanta                74kg    1975/03/11

14. Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)                    21 years  7 months 24 days     2016 Rio de Janeiro   74kg    1994/12/26

15. Khadshimourad GATSALOV (RUS)  21 years  7 months 24 days     2004 Athens              96kg     1982/12/11

 

TOP 15 OLDEST OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (FREESTYLE)

    Name                                                        Age                             Olympics                   Wt.  Date of birth  (Yr/Mo/Day)

1. Arsen MEKOKISHVILI (URS)            40 years 3 months 11 days     1952 Helsinki              +87kg    1912/04/12

2. Gyula BOBIS (HUN)                           38 years 9 months 24 days    1948 London               +87kg     1909/10/07

3. Valentin JORDANOV (BUL)              36 years 6 months 7 days        1996 Atlanta                 52kg     1960/01/26

4. Kaarlo MAEKINEN (FIN)                  36 years 2 months 18 days      1928 Amsterdam          56kg     1892/05/14

5. *Yasar DOGU (TUR)                          35 years 6 months 30 days      1948 London                73kg     1913/01/01

6. Hermann GEHRI (SUI)                     34 years 11 months 18 days      1924 Paris                    72kg     1889/07/26

7. Alexander MEDVED (URS)                34 years 11 months 15 days      1972 Munich             +100kg   1937/09/16

8. Mahmut ATALAY (TUR)                   34 years 6 months 20 days       1968 Mexico City         78kg     1934/03/30

9. Kustaa PIHLAJAMAEKI (FIN)         34 years 3 months 28 days       1936 Berlin                    61kg       1902/04/07

10. Johan RICHTHOFF (SWE)               34 years 3 months 3 days         1932 Los Angeles       +87kg    1898/04/30

11. Bouvaisa SAITIEV (RUS)                  33 years 5 months 9 days         2008 Beijing                 74kg     1975/03/11

12. Artur TAIMAZOV (UZB)                   33 years 0 months 22 days       2012  London              120kg    1979/07/20

13. Kaarlo Johan ANTTILA (FIN)          32 years 11 months 28 days      1920 Antwerp             67.5kg    1887/08/30

14. Emile POILVE (FRA)                         32 years 10 months 16 days       1936 Berlin                   79kg    1903/09/19

15. Olle ANDERBERG (SWE)                 32 years 10 months 10 days       1952 Helsinki               67kg    1919/09/13

*--There are discrepancies in the birthdate of Yasar Dogu. The date used here is conjecture from various sources.

Obituary

Japanese legend and Olympic champ Obara passes away aged 44

Saturday, July 19, 2025 - 11:00 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (July 19) — Legendary Japanese wrestler Hitomi OBARA, the 2012 London Olympic gold medalist at women's 48kg and an eight-time world champion, passed away on Friday, the Japanese media reported on Saturday. She was 44.

The Japan Self-Defense Force Physical Training School, where Obara was a women's coach, said it was withholding the cause of death "out of consideration for the privacy and emotions of the bereaved family," according to The Yomiuri Shimbun.

Obara, the mother of two elementary school-aged children, was a director in the Japan Wrestling Federation, and had just been appointed in June as a coach of the women's national team for the run-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics along with fellow former Olympic champion Kaori ICHO.

Obara, who won six of her world titles at 51kg under her maiden name of SAKAMOTO, became a model case for the ups and downs of high-level sports and the ability to overcome grave disappointment. Her victory at the London Olympics, at age 31, came after being denied spots on Japan's team at both of the two previous Olympics by fellow legend Saori YOSHIDA.

Born in 1981 in the wrestling hotbed of Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan, Obara went on to attend Chukyo University (now Shigakkan), which she helped turn into a national powerhouse along with Yoshida and fellow Hachinohe native Icho.

"It's hard, it's hard, I can't keep from crying," former Shigakkan and national team coach Kazuhito SAKAE was quoted as telling the Japanese media. "She was a wrestling prodigy. At the least, she was a hard worker with a strong sense of responsibility. She was wrestling's heaven-sent child. I still can't believe it." 

Obara won back-to-back world 51kg titles in 1999 and 2000. A serious knee injury would keep her from returning to the world championships until 2005, from which she won four in a row.

In between, she attempted to make the Japanese's squad to the 2004 Athens Olympics, but that dream ended with a loss by fall to Yoshida in the 55kg final at the All-Japan Championships in December 2002. She would only compete once in 2003 before returning in earnest in 2004 and beginning her streak of world titles the following year.

But more disappointment came her way in the qualifying process for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Again it was Yoshida who squashed her dreams, beating her 2-0 (2-0, 4-0) in the 2006 All-Japan final. After the match, Obara sat for hours sobbing in a corner of the warm-up room, a towel draped over her head.

Obara managed to rebound from the defeat to win a playoff for the 51kg spot at the 2007 World Championships, where she won gold No. 5. After adding No. 6 a year later with a run to the gold that included a victory over future Olympic champ Helen MAROULIS (USA), she decided to retire.

But despite all of her success, the lack of a Olympic gold -- or even an appearance, for that matter -- still left a sting that would not abate. That, and the decision of her younger sister Makiko to retire, led her to attempt the difficult path of cutting down to 48kg to make it to London.

Makiko was a world bronze medalist at 48kg in 2005 and 2008, but decided to end her career after placing eighth in 2009. Hitomi had never wanted to displace her sister from the national team, but now the door to 48kg was open.

Her biggest battle may have been with the scale. On the mat, she was as unbeatable as ever, storming to world golds in 2010 and 2011 -- now as Obara after getting married in 2010.

There was one slip-up along the way -- a semifinal loss to So Sim HYANG (PRK) at the 2010 Asian Games that ended her 70-match winning streak in international matches. But she regained her confidence with a decisive win at the All-Japan, and it was with a full head of steam that she headed to the London Olympics, which she had announced would be her swan song.

In London, Obara knocked off defending Olympic champion Carol HUYNH (CAN) in the semifinals before coming from behind in the final to defeat Mariya STADNIK (AZE) 2-1 (0-4, 1-0, 2-0) -- a replay of the gold-medal match at the 2011 worlds.

"If you keep doing what you love and never give up, you can achieve your dream," Obara told students at the junior high school she attended during a visit in January last year.

Upon retiring, Obara joined the staff at the Self-Defense Force Physical Training School, where she was also an officer. Among the members she coached were Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO, Himeka TOKUHARA and Masako FURUICHI, who all made Japan's team to this year's World Championships.

In 2022, Obara was inducted into UWW's Hall of Fame along with Yoshida and Icho.