Ivan Yarygin

Ivan Yarygin, who took up wrestling in 1966, was one of the world’s best heavyweight freestylers in the early 70s. Yarygin made his international début at the 1970 European Championships, where he won a silver medal. He was Olympic champion in 1972 and 1976, World Champion in 1973 and European Champion in 1972, 1975 and 1976, also winning a silver at the 1974 European Championships. Domestically, he was the Soviet Champion in 1970 and 1973. After finishing his sporting career, Yarygin worked as a wrestling coach. From 1982-92, he was head coach of the Soviet national freestyle wrestling team. From 1993 until his untimely death in a car accident near Neftekumsk, Yarygin was president of the Russian Wrestling Federation. Since 1990, an annual wrestling tournament in his honor has been held in Krasnoyarsk. Yarygin was inducted into the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010.