Obituary

Turkish Olympic Champion Bayram Şit Passes Away

By United World Wrestling Press

Bayram Şit, a 1952 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, passed away on Wednesday, May 29. He was 89 years old. 

Şit competed in the featherweight division for Turkey. After claiming a gold medal at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, Şit added a silver medal at the 1954 World Championships. In 1956, Sit placed fourth at the Olympic Games in Melbourne.


After his competitive wrestling career, Şit worked as a trainer for Turkey's national team. He went on train the French national team for two years, helping many French wrestlers win medals. 

Şit was buried in the Karşıyaka memorial cemetery. 

Olympic silver medalist Oborududu announces retirement

By Vinay Siwach

NIGERIA (June 6) -- Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) announced her retirement last week, ending a memorable career in wrestling.

The 36-year-old called it quits at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, a tournament she made her first appearance as a young wrestler in 2006.

In a career spanning 19 years, Oborududu won the African Championships 13 times, became the first African wrestler to win Olympic silver medal in Women's Wrestling and finished fifth at the Paris Olympics.

Oborududu participated won her first gold at the African Championships in 2010 and maintained her winning streak at the tournament for 15 years. 

“I want to thank everyone who has been part of my journey: the Nigeria Wrestling Federation led by Daniel IGALI, the board members, my teammates, and my family,” Oborududu was quoted as saying by the Nigeria media. "I created a lot of memories, but my most memorable one was the Tokyo Olympics, which ignited hope across Africa. It was the first-ever medal by an African woman in wrestling at the Olympics, and I hope more will come for future wrestlers."

At the sports festival, Oborududu helped Team Bayelsa clinch gold medal in her final bout at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival. He later received a farewell from teammates, officials and fans.