Obituary

Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov, First Kazakh to Win Olympic Gold, Dies at 69

Monday, August 3, 2020 - 12:49 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 3) -- Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov, who won Olympic gold for the U.S.S.R  in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Moscow Games in 1980, has died. He was 69.

Ushkempirov was the first ethnic Kazakh to win an Olympic gold in wrestling and became a national star following his performance. To honor his achievements, there is an international Junior Greco-Roman wrestling tournament named "Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov" held annually in the nation of Kazakhstan. He was also inducted into the UWW Hall of Fame in 2014.

In addition to his Olympic gold, Ushkempirov was a 1981 World champion, 1980 European silver medallist, USSR Champion (1975,1980), and Honored Master of Sports of USSR (1980). 

Ushkempirov also received the Labor of Kazakhstan award as well as the honors of "Barys", "Badge of Honor", "Parasat".

Ushkempirov

#WrestleCaorle

Watch Live: 2025 European U20 Championships, Italy

Monday, June 30, 2025 - 06:41 By United World Wrestling Press

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CAORLE, Italy (June 30) — The European U20 Championships begins in Caorle, Italy on Monday, June 30 and will run till July 6 with close to 500 wrestling fighting it out for the 30 gold medals on offer.

The tournament will kick off with Greco-Roman in five weight classes. Women’s Wrestling will begin Wednesday and Freestyle will close out the tournament.

For full schedule of European U20 Championships, click here.

WATCH LIVE: MAT A, MAT B and MAT C

For live match order of the day, click here.

For brackets of Greco-Roman, Freestyle and Women’s Wrestling, click here.

The qualification rounds will begin at 1000 hours local time and medal bouts will begin at 1800 hours local time. The semifinals will be held at 1645 hours each day barring Monday, on which the semifinals will start at 1800 hours as there no medal bouts.

For all results, click here.

For all photos, click here.