List of amateur wrestlers

Listed are wrestlers who wrestled in either freestyle, Greco-Roman, collegiate, or associated amateur wrestling styles. These wrestlers should not be confused with the sports entertainment form of professional wrestling.

Armenia Armenia

  • Alfred Ter-Mkrtychyan – 1992 Olympic silver medalist (for Unified Team)
  • Ara Abrahamian – 2004 Olympic silver medalist (for Sweden)
  • Artem Teryan – 1952 Olympic bronze medalist (for Soviet Union)
  • Artur Aleksanyan – 2016 Olympic gold medalist, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, 2014 and 2015 World champion
  • Arsen Julfalakyan – 2012 Olympic silver medalist
  • Armen Mkrtchyan – 1996 Olympic silver medalist
  • Armen Nazaryan – 1996 Olympic gold medalist, 2000 Olympic gold medalist (for Bulgaria), 2004 Olympic bronze medalist (for Bulgaria)
  • Levon Julfalakyan – 1988 Olympic gold medalist (for Soviet Union)
  • Mkkhitar Manukyan – 2004 Olympic bronze medalist (for Kazakhstan)
  • Roman Amoyan – 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, 2006 and 2011 European champion

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan

  • Namig Abdullayev – 2000 Olympic gold medalist, 1996 Olympic silver medalist
  • Emin Ahmadov – 2012 Olympics bronze medalist
  • Toghrul Asgarov – 2012 Olympic gold medalist
  • Rovshan Bayramov – 2008 Olympic silver medalist, 2012 Olympic silver medalist
  • Khetag Gazyumov – 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Farid Mansurov – 2004 Olympic gold medalist
  • Vitaliy Rahimov – 2008 Olympic silver medalist
  • Sharif Sharifov – 2012 Olympic gold medalist

Australia Australia

  • Richard Garrard – 1948 Olympic silver medalist
  • Eddie Scarf – 1932 Olympic bronze medalist

Austria Austria

  • Nikolaus Hirschl – 1932 Olympic 2 time bronze medalist, European Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, 10 time Austrian Heavyweight Wrestling Champion

Belarus Belarus

Belgium Belgium

Bulgaria Bulgaria

  • Valentin Yordanov – 1996 Olympic gold medalist in up to 52 kg weight class, seven times World Champion (1983, '85, '87, '89, '93, '94, and '95), seven times European Champion (1982, '83, '85, '86, '87, '88, and '89), and is the only wrestler to hold 10 World Championship medals (7 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze).
  • Ivan Radnev – 1994 World silver medalist
  • Dimitar Dobrev – 1960 Olympic gold medalist (73 – 79 kg), 1956 Olympic silver medalist (73 – 79 kg)
  • Petko Sirakov – 1956 Olympic silver medalist (79 – 87 kg)
  • Nikola Stanchev – 1956 Olympic gold medalist (73 – 79 kg)
  • Hussein Mehmedov – 1956 Olympic silver medalist (+ 87 kg)
  • Dinko Petrov – 1960 Olympic bronze medalist (52 – 57 kg)
  • Krali Bimbalov – 1960 Olympic silver medalist (79 – 87 kg)
  • Nezhdet Zalev – 1960 Olympic silver medalist (52 – 57 kg)
  • Stancho Ivanov – 1960 Olympic silver medalist (57 – 62 kg)
  • Enyu Valchev – 1960 Olympic bronze medalist (62 – 67 kg), 1964 Olympic gold medalist (62 – 67 kg), 1968 Olympic silver medalist (63 – 70 kg), 1962 World gold medalist (62 – 67 kg)
  • Angel Kerezov – 1964 Olympic silver medalist (- 52 kg)
  • Kiril Todorov – 1964 Olympic silver medalist (70 – 78 kg)
  • Boyan Radev – 1964 Olympic gold medalist (87 – 97 kg), 1968 Olympic gold medalist (87 – 97 kg)
  • Stancho Kolev – 1964 Olympic silver medalist (57 – 63 kg)
  • Prodan Gardzhev – 1964 Olympic gold medalist (78 – 87 kg), 1968 Olympic bronze medalist (78 – 87 kg)
  • Said Mustafov – 1964 Olympic bronze medalist (87 – 97 kg)
  • Lyutvi Akhmedov – 1964 Olympic silver medalist (+ 97 kg)
  • Enyu Todorov – 1968 Olympic silver medalist (57 – 63 kg)
  • Osman Duraliev – 1968 Olympic silver medalist (+ 97 kg)
  • Petar Kirov – 1968 Olympic gold medalist (- 52 kg), 1972 Olympic gold medalist (48 – 52 kg)
  • Ognyan Nikolov – 1972 Olympic silver medalist (- 48 kg)
  • Ivan Krastev – 1972 Olympic bronze medalist (57 – 62 kg)
  • Osman Duraliev – 1972 Olympic silver medalist (+ 100)
  • Stefan Angelov – 1972 Olympic bronze medalist (- 48 kg), 1976 Olympic bronze medalist (- 48 kg)
  • Georgi Markov – 1972 Olympic gold medalist (57 – 62 kg)
  • Stoyan Apostolov – 1972 Olympic silver medalist (62 – 68 kg)
  • Aleksandar Tomov – 1972 Olympic silver medalist (+ 100), 1976 Olympic silver medalist (+ 100), 1980 Olympic silver medalist (+ 100)
  • Khasan Isaev – 1976 Olympic gold medalist (- 48 kg)
  • Dimo Kostov – 1976 Olympic bronze medalist (90 – 100 kg)
  • Ivan Kolev – 1976 Olympic bronze medalist (74 – 82 kg)
  • Stoyan Ivanov – 1976 Olympic silver medalist (82 – 90 kg)
  • Kamen Goranov – 1976 Olympic silver medalist (90 – 100 kg)
  • Nermedin Selimov – 1980 Olympic bronze medalist (48 – 52 kg)
  • Miho Dukov – 1980 Olympic silver medalist (57 – 62 kg)
  • Ivan Yankov – 1980 Olympic silver medalist (62 – 68 kg)
  • Valentin Raychev – 1980 Olympic gold medalist (68 – 74 kg)
  • Ismail Abilov – 1980 Olympic gold medalist (74 – 82 kg)
  • Slavcho Chervenkov – 1980 Olympic silver medalist (90 – 100 kg)
  • Mladen Mladenov – 1980 Olympic bronze medalist (48 – 52 kg)
  • Pavel Pavlov – 1980 Olympic bronze medalist (74 – 82 kg)
  • Georgi Raikov – 1980 Olympic gold medalist (90 – 100 kg)
  • Ivan Tzonov – 1988 Olympic silver medalist (- 48 kg)
  • Simeon Shterev – 1988 Olympic bronze medalist (57 – 62 kg)
  • Rahmat Sukra – 1988 Olympic bronze medalist (68 – 74 kg)
  • Bratan Tzenov – 1988 Olympic bronze medalist (- 48 kg)
  • Stoyan Balov – 1988 Olympic silver medalist (52 – 57 kg)
  • Zhivko Vangelov – 1988 Olympic silver medalist (57 – 62 kg)
  • Atanas Komchev – 1988 Olympic gold medalist (82 – 90 kg)
  • Rangel Gerovski – 1988 Olympic silver medalist (+ 130 kg)
  • Valentin Yordanov – 1992 Olympic bronze medalist (48 – 52 kg), 1996 Olympic gold medalist (48 – 52 kg)
  • Valentin Getsov – 1992 Olympic silver medalist (62 – 68 kg)
  • Serafim Barzakov – 2000 Olympic silver medalist (58 – 63 kg)
  • Radoslav Velikov – 2008 Olympic bronze medalist (- 54 kg)
  • Kiril Terziev – 2008 Olympic bronze medalist (66 – 74 kg)
  • Yavor Yanakiev – 2008 Olympic bronze medalist (66 – 74 kg)

Canada Canada

China China

  • Wang Xu – 2004 Olympic gold medalist
  • Sheng Zetian – 2000 Olympic bronze medalist

Cuba Cuba

  • Feliberto Ascuy – 1996, 2000 Olympic gold medalists
  • Yandro Miguel Quintana – 2004 Olympic gold medalist
  • Juan Marén – 1992 Olympic bronze medalist, 1996, 2000 Olympic silver medalists
  • Alexis Vila – 1996 Olympic bronze medalists
  • Roberto Monzon – 2004 Olympic silver medalist
  • Iván Fundora – 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, 2007 World Bronze
  • Yoel Romero – 2000 Olympic silver medalist, world champion, world second twice, world third twice
  • Alexis Rodríguez – 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, 1998 world gold, 2001 world silver
  • Lázaro Rivas – 2000 Olympic silver, 1999 world gold, 2003 & 2001 World bronze
  • Mijaín López – three-time Olympic champion, five-time world champion, three-time world second
  • Liván López – 2012 Olympic bronze, 2013 World Bronze, 2014 & 2011 World Bronze
  • Ismael Borrero – 2016 Olympic gold, 2019 & 2015 world gold medalist
  • Yasmany Lugo – 2016 Olympic silver medalist

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia

  • Josef Urban – 1932 Olympic silver medalist

Denmark Denmark

  • Henrik Hansen – 1948 Olympic bronze medalist

Egypt Egypt

Estonia Estonia

  • Georg Lurich – legitimate professional wrestling champion, record-setting strongman, namesake of a a memorial competition held since 1956 (et), trainer of Georg Hackenschmidt and Aleksander Aberg
  • Aleksander Aberg – legitimate professional wrestling champion, namesake of a ship
  • George Hackenschmidt – legitimate World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, European Greco-Roman Heavyweight Champion
  • August Neo – 1936 Olympic silver medalist in Freestyle and Bronze in Greco-Roman
  • Kristjan Palusalu – 1936 Olympic gold medalist Greco-Roman, 1936 Olympic gold medalist Freestyle.
  • Voldemar Väli – 1928 Olympic gold medalist, 1932 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Johannes Kotkas – 1952 Olympic gold medalist Greco-Roman, 1953 World Championships silver medalist Greco-Roman
  • Heiki Nabi – 1996 World Champion Greco-Roman wrestling, 2012 Olympic silver medalist, 2013 World Championships silver medalist Greco-Roman
  • Eduard Pütsep – 1924 Olympic gold medalist Greco-Roman wrestling
  • Osvald Käpp – 1928 Olympic gold medalist Greco-Roman wrestling
  • August Englas – 1953 World Champion Greco-Roman wrestling, 1954 World Champion Freestyle wrestling
  • Albert Kusnets – 1928 Olympic bronze medalist Greco-Roman wrestling
  • Roman Steinberg – 1924 Olympic bronze medalist Greco-Roman wrestling
  • August Kippasto – 1912 Olympian
  • Martin Klein – 1912 Olympic silver medalist

France France

Finland Finland

Georgia Georgia (country)

Germany Germany

Great Britain United Kingdom

  • Archie MacDonald – 1924 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Kenneth Richmond – 1952 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Noel Loban – 1984 Olympic bronze medalist

Greece Greece

Hungary Hungary

  • Sandor Istvan Bardozi – 2000 Olympic silver medalist
  • Garry Kallos (born 1956) – Hungarian-born Canadian wrestler and sambo competitor

India India

  • Sushil Kumar – 2012 Olympic silver medalist, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist & 2010 World Champion
  • Khashaba Jadhav – 1952 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Yogeshwar Dutt – 2012 Olympic bronze medalist

Iran Iran

Italy Italy

Japan Japan

  • Osamu Watanabe – 1964 Olympic gold medalist and freestyle wrestling's only Olympic gold medalist to retire undefeated in competition
  • Kaori Icho – 2004 Olympic gold medalist
  • Kenji Inoue – 2004 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Chikara Tanabe – 2004 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Kyoko Hamaguchi – 2004 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Yojiro Uetake – 1964 and 1968 olympic gold medalist and 3 time undefeated NCAA Champion at Oklahoma State University

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan

Korea, North North Korea

  • Ri Yong-Sam – 1996 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Kang Yong-Gyun – 2000 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Kim II – 1996, 1992 Olympic gold medalists

Korea, South South Korea

Lebanon Lebanon

Republic of Macedonia North Macedonia

Moldova Moldova

  • Serguei Moureiko – 1996 Olympic bronze medalist

Mongolia Mongolia

Norway Norway

Pakistan Pakistan

Poland Poland

Romania Romania

Russia Russia

Sweden Sweden

  • Edvin Matiasson – 1908 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Erik Lindén – 1948 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Frank Andersson – 1984 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Mikael Ljungberg – 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, 2000 Olympic gold medalist
  • Martin Lidberg – 2003 World gold medalist, Multible European Medalist
  • Ara Abrahamian – 2004 Olympic silver medalist, later became known for his antics during 2008 Olympics where he was stripped of his bronze
  • Sofia Mattsson – 2007 European bronze medalist, 2008 European silver medalist
  • Johan Eurén – 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, 2013 World bronze medalist
  • Jimmy Lidberg – 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, 2009-11 World Medalist
  • Sofia Mattsson – 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, Multible World Medalist
  • Jenny Fransson – 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, Multible World Medalist

Switzerland Switzerland

  • Adolf Müller – 1948 Olympic bronze medalist

Turkey Turkey

USSR Soviet Union

  • Aleksandr Ivanov – 1976 Olympic silver medalist
  • Alexander Medved – 1964, 1968, 1972 Olympic gold medalist, FILA Greatest Wrestler of 20th Century (Freestyle)
  • Sergei Beloglazov – 1980, 1988 Olympic gold medalist, 6 time World Champion
  • Makharbek Khadartsev – 1988, 1992 Olympic gold medalist, 1996 Olympic silver medalist
  • Shazam Safin – 1952 Olympic gold medalist
  • Shamil Khisamutdinov – 1972 Olympic gold medalist
  • Farhat Mustafin – 1976 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Vladimir Bakulin − 1968 Olympic silver medalist
  • Ivan Koschergin – 1968 bronze medalist
  • Valentin Oleynick – 1968 silver medalist
  • Nikolai Yakovenko – 1968 silver medalist, 1972 silver medalist
  • Anatoli Roschtchin – 1968 silver medalist, 1972 gold medalist
  • Boris Gurowitsch – 1968 gold medalist
  • Shota Lomidze – 1968 silver medalist
  • Roman Dmitriev – 1972 gold medalist, 1976 silver medalist
  • Arsen Allakhverdiev − 1972 silver medalist
  • Zagalav Abdulbekov − 1972 gold medalist
  • Rouslan Ashuraliev – 1972 bronze medalist
  • Levan Tediashvili – 1972 gold medalist, 1976 gold medalist
  • gennadi Strachow – 1972 silver medalist
  • Ivan Yarygin – 1972 gold medalist, 1976 gold medalist
  • Roustan kasakov – 1972 gold medalist
  • Anatoli nazarenko – 1972 silver medalist
  • Valeri Resanzev – 1972 gold medalist, 1976 gold medalist
  • Alexej Shumakov – 1976 gold medalist
  • Vladimir Yumin – 1976 gold medalist
  • Pavel Pinigin – 1976 gold medalist
  • Viktor Novishilov – 1976 silver medalist
  • Soslan Andiev – 1976 gold medalist, 1980 gold medalist
  • Vitali Konstantinov – 1976 gold medalist
  • Nelson Davidyan – 1976 silver medalist
  • Suren Nalbandyan – 1976 gold medalist
  • Anatoly Bykov – 1976 gold medalist, 1980 silver medalist
  • Vladimir Tcheboksarov – 1976 silver medalist
  • Nikolai balboshin – 1976 gold medalist
  • Alexander Koltchinski – 1976 gold medalist, 1980 gold medalist
  • Magomed Arasilov – 1980 silver medalist
  • anatoli Belaglasov – 1980 gold medalist

Uzbekistan Uzbekistan

Ukraine Ukraine

United Arab Republic United Arab Republic

USA United States

  • Kyle Snyder – 2016 Olympic gold medalist, 2020 Olympic silver medalist, three-time World Champion, three-time NCAA Division I gold medalist
  • Jordan Burroughs – 2012 Olympic gold medalist, 4 time World Champion
  • Matt Ghaffari – 1996 Olympic silver medalist
  • Robert Curry – 1904 Olympic gold medalist
  • Robin Reed – 1924 Olympic gold medalist, undefeated, pinned every opponent in Olympic competition
  • Chester Newton – 1924 Olympic silver medalist
  • Bruce Baumgartner – 1984, 1992 Olympic gold medalist, 1988 Olympic silver medalist, 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, most Olympic medals of all American wrestlers
  • John Smith – 1988, 1992 Olympic gold medalist, 4X World Champion
  • Pat Smith – younger brother of John; first wrestler to win four NCAA Division I titles.
  • Dan Gable – 1972 Olympic gold medalist, 1971 World Champion, first wrestler in history to not have one point scored on him in the Olympics
  • Terrence McCann – 1960 Olympic gold medalist, founder of now USA Wrestling
  • Dave Schultz – 1984 Olympic gold medalist
  • Mark Schultz – 1984 Olympic gold medalist
  • Rulon Gardner – 2000 Olympic gold medalist, 2004 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Kenny Monday – 1988 Olympic gold medalist, 1992 Olympic silver medalist
  • Cael Sanderson – 2004 Olympic gold medalist, 4 time NCAA Champion
  • Richard Voliva – 1936 Olympic silver medalist
  • Francis Millard – 1936 Olympic silver medalist
  • Frank Lewis – 1936 Olympic gold medalist
  • Glen Brand – 1948 Olympic gold medalist
  • Leland Merrill – 1948 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Henry Wittenberg – 1948 Olympic gold medalist, 1952 Olympic silver medalist
  • William Smith – 1952 Olympic gold medalist
  • Josiah Henson – 1952 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Danny Hodge – 1956 Olympic silver medalist, Dan Hodge Trophy namesake, professional wrestling NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • Peter Blair – 1956 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Shelby Wilson – 1960 Olympic gold medalist
  • Douglas Blubaugh – 1960 Olympic gold medalist
  • Daniel Brand – 1964 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Donald Behm – 1968 Olympic silver medalist
  • Dremiel Byers – 2002 World Champion, 3 time World medalist
  • Richard Sanders – 1968, 1972 Olympic silver medalist
  • Chris Taylor – 1972 Olympic bronze medalist
  • John Peterson – 1972 Olympic silver medalist, 1976 Olympic gold medalist
  • Stanley Dziedzic – 1976 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Jamill Kelly – 2004 Olympics silver medalist
  • Jeff Blatnick – 1984 Olympic gold medalist
  • Kevin Jackson – 1992 Olympic gold medalist
  • Kurt Angle – 1996 Olympic gold medalist, professional wrestling WWE Champion
  • Tom Brands – 1996 Olympic gold medalist
  • Terry Brands – 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, 2 time World Champion
  • Kevin Randleman – two-time NCAA Division I Champion, UFC Heavyweight Champion
  • Edward Banach – 1984 Olympic gold medalist
  • Louis Banach – 1984 Olympic gold medalist
  • Andrew Rein – 1984 Olympic silver medalist
  • Barry Davis – 1984 Olympic silver medalist
  • Steve Fraser – 1984 Olympic gold medalist
  • Dan Severn – 1986 World Champion, Olympic alternate, UFC 5 and Ultimate Ultimate 1995 tournament champion, UFC Superfight Champion, professional wrestling NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship
  • Mark Coleman – 1991 World silver medalist, NCAA Division I Champion, UFC Heavyweight Champion
  • Mark Kerr – NCAA Division I Champion, three-time ADCC World Champion, UFC 14 and UFC 15 tournament champion
  • Randy Couture – three-time Olympic alternate, two-time NCAA Division I runner-up, three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and two-time Light Heavyweight Champion
  • Dan Henderson – two-time Olympian, Pan American Champion, PRIDE Middleweight and Welterweight Champion
  • Brock Lesnar – NCAA Division I Champion, professional wrestling WWE Champion, UFC Heavyweight Champion
  • Matt James Lindland – 2000 Olympic silver medalist
  • Garrett Lowney – 2000 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Ben Peterson – 1972 Olympic gold medalist, 1976 Olympic silver medalist
  • Townsend Saunders – 1996 Olympic silver medalist
  • Zeke Jones – 1996 Olympic silver medalist
  • Patricia Miranda – 2004 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Brandon Slay – 2000 Olympic gold medalist
  • Brandon Paulson – 1996 Olympic silver medalist
  • Dennis Hall – 1996 Olympic silver medalist
  • Daniel Cormier – six-time National Freestyle Champion, World bronze medalist, six-time Olympian, UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion
  • Sara McMann – 2004 Olympic silver medalist
  • Lincoln McIlravy – 2000 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Nate Carr – 1988 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Dennis Koslowski – 1992 Olympic silver medalist
  • William Scherr – 1988 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Robert Weaver – 1984 Olympics gold medalist
  • James Martinez – 1984 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Greg Gibson – 1984 Olympic silver medalist
  • Stephen Abas – 2004 Olympic silver medalist
  • Samuel Henson – 2000 Olympic silver medalist
  • Henry Cejudo – 2008 Olympic gold medalist, simultaneous UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion
  • Lindsey Durlacher – 2006 world bronze medalist
  • Joe Warren – 2006 World Champion
  • Ike Okoli – 2014 World bronze medalist and 2015 Pan-Am gold medalist (beach wrestling)
  • Anthony Robles – NCAA Division I champion in 2011 despite being born with only one leg
  • Kyle Dake – 4 time NCAA Division I champion, and the only wrestler to win NCAA titles in four different weight classes
  • Logan Stieber – 4 time NCAA Division I champion

YUG Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

See also

  • Sports portal

References