Obituary

Olympic champ Ogan passes away at 89

By United World Wrestling Press

COSIER-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 29) --- İsmail OGAN (TUR), the two-time Olympic medalist and 1964 Tokyo Olympic champion, passed away earlier this week. He was 89 years old.

Ogan was born on March 5, 1933, in the Macun Village, Aksu District of Antalya, Turkey. He began his storied wrestling career in 1950 under the tutelage of trainers Yaşar DOGU (TUR) and Celal ATIK (TUR).

Olgan quickly made a name for himself in the wrestling world, winning three world medals and gold and silver medals at the Olympic Games. He started his impressive international career with a silver-medal finish at the 1957 Istanbul World Championships. Two years later, he won a second medal on the world stage, claiming bronze at the 1959 Tehran World Championships.

A year later, Olgan won a silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games after falling to American Douglas BLUGAUGH in the 73kg finals. But Olgan saved his most impressive performance for the final competition of his career, the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. He defeated two-time world champion Guliko SAGARADZE (USSR) and improved his Rome Olympic silver to a Tokyo Olympic gold.

After retiring from wrestling following the 1964 Games, Olgan continued to give back to the wrestling community by coaching young Turkish athletes.

Obituary

Japanese legend and Olympic champ Obara passes away aged 44

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (July 19) — Former Japanese great Hitomi OBARA, a 2012 London Olympic gold medalist and eight-time world champion, died on Friday, Japanese media reported on Saturday. She was 44.

Obara won six world titles at women's 51kg between 2000 and 2008 under her maiden name of SAKAMOTO, but lost out to Saori YOSHIDA in an attempt to make Japan's team at 55kg to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

She retired after that disappointment, but returned to mat and cut down to 48kg in a bid for the London Olympics. She won world titles at 48kg in 2010 and 2011, then defeated Mariya STADNIK (AZE) in the London final for the Olympic gold. 

Born in the powerful wrestling city of Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan, Obara had been appointed as coach of the national women's team in January along with fellow Hachinohe native and Olympic champion Kaori ICHO.