Obituary

Habibi, Iran's first Olympic champion, dies aged 94

Monday, August 25, 2025 - 09:42 By United World Wrestling Press

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TEHRAN, Iran (August 24) -- Emamali HABIBI (IRI), Iran's first-ever Olympic gold medalist and United World Wrestling Hall of Fame member, passed away Sunday aged 94.

Habibi was born Babol in 1931 and won the first Olympic gold medal for Iran in 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Facing Alimbeg BESTAEV in the final round to decide the gold medalist, Habibi secured a fall in the 67kg final and etched his name in history, became first Olympic champion for Iran.

It was a rare feat in those times as he had never wrestled at an international event before the Olympics. He would make his World Championships debut in 1959, winning gold medal at 73kg. He defended his title in 1961 and added a third gold medal in 1962 at 78kg.

Emamali HABIBI (IRI)Emamali HABIBI (IRI) with his World Championships gold medal.

He participated in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome at 73kg and finished fourth. Habibi also has a gold medal at the 1958 Asian Games, held in Tokyo, Japan.

Habibi's legacy also includes his diverse wrestling techniques and speed on the mat which allowed him to win bouts with domination. He is widely considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of his times. He was included in the UWW Hall of Fame in 2007 for his contribution to wrestling.

UWW offers its condolences to Iran Wrestling Federation and the Habibi family.

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UWW Signs MoU with Smoothcomp for Grappling, Amateur MMA

Monday, May 18, 2026 - 07:04 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 18) -- United World Wrestling (UWW) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Smoothcomp AB to collaborate in the areas of event management systems, competition software, and digital solutions for UWW Associated Styles, including Grappling, Pankration, and Amateur MMA.

The MoU was signed last week in Lausanne, Switzerland and in effect for 12 months from the date of signing.

It outlines the respective roles of both organizations and provides for UWW’s evaluation and potential use of Smoothcomp’s platform for event registration and competition management, as well as support for pilot events and development projects.

The agreement also includes the exploration of potential integration between Smoothcomp’s platform and UWW systems, including Athena and related tools.

About United World Wrestling:
United World Wrestling is the international governing body for the sport of wrestling, recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Headquartered in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland, UWW oversees Olympic wrestling disciplines, including Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Women’s Wrestling, as well as associated styles such as Grappling, Pankration, Belt Wrestling, and Beach Wrestling. UWW works with national federations worldwide to promote, regulate, and develop the sport at all levels.

About Smoothcomp:
Smoothcomp AB is a Sweden-based provider of competition management software and digital solutions for combat sports and martial arts events. Its platform supports online registration, brackets, scheduling, live scoring, and event administration for organizers, athletes, coaches, and federations worldwide.