- Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael Benoit (May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler who wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. A two-time World Heavyweight Champion, he was widely regarded as one of the best technical professional wrestlers of his generation. Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel were found dead in their Fayetteville, Georgia home on June 25, 2007.
- Bob Backlund
Robert Louis Backlund (born August 14, 1949) is a former American professional wrestler and minor politician.
- Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9 1968) is an American professional wrestler and former Olympic amateur wrestler. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is the reigning TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Angle also makes appearances for the Japan based Inoki Genome Federation, …
- Dan Gable
Dan Gable (born October 25, 1948 in Waterloo, Iowa), is a well-known American amateur wrestler. He is considered one of the greatest American amateur wrestlers of all time.
- Ara Abrahamian
Ara Abrahamian (born July 25, 1975) is a Swedish wrestler of Armenian ancestry, who has won two world championships and a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics.
- Armen Nazarian
Armen Nazarian (born March 9, 1974 in Gyumri, Armenia) is a Bulgarian Greco Roman wrestler of Armenian ethnic origin and a member of the Fila Hall of Fame. He started wrestling at the age of eight and wrestled for the USSR in international tournaments before the break up of that country in 1991. After which Nazarian wrestled for Armenia, before emigrating to Bulgaria in 1995. Nazarian has achieved status as the most feared Greco wrestler in the world today, …
- Alexander Karelin
Alexandr Alexandrovich Karelin Ph.D, or simply Alexander Karelin, (Russian: Александр Александрович Карелин; born September 19, 1967 in Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR) was a dominant Greco-Roman wrestler for the Soviet Union and later, after its dissolution, for Russia. He won gold medals at the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic Games. Nicknamed the "Russian Dan Gable," he went undefeated in international competition from 1987 until 2000, …
- Jim Jordan
James D. "Jim" Jordan (born February 17, 1964, Urbana, Ohio) is an American politician of the Republican party who serves as a U.S. Representative from the Fourth Congressional District of Ohio. He was first elected in 2006, defeating Democrat Rick Siferd 60% to 40%. Jordan was born and raised in Champaign County, Ohio, and attended Graham High School, where he graduated in 1982. While at Graham, he was a four-time state wrestling champion with a career record of 150-1.
- Yaşar Doğu
Yaşar Doğu, was a legendary Turkish sports wrestler and trainer, who won the gold medal in the Welterweight class of Men's Freestyle Wrestling at the 1948 Olympics. He was born in the village Karlı of Kavak district in Samsun province to a family of Caucasian origin. He began wrestling at his age of 15 in yağlı güreş (oil wrestling) and continued in this folk sports antil he entered the military service.
- Celal Atik
Celal Atik was a successful Turkish sports wrestler and trainer, who won the gold medal in the Lightweight class of Men's Freestyle Wrestling at the 1948 Olympics. He was born in the village of Gürdan in the Boğazlıyan district of Yozgat Province. He changed his family name from "Doğan" to "Atik" (literally, "Slippy") after a proposal by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, who noticed his speed at the Turkey Wrestling Championships in 1938.
- Tom Brands
Tom Brands (born April 9, 1968) is the head wrestling coach at the University of Iowa. He won a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics. An intense competitor, Brands' wrestling career with the University of Iowa included a record of 158-7-2 and an undefeated season in 1991 where he was 45-0. He was a four-time All-American, three-time NCAA Champion, three-time Big Ten Conference Champion, and Outstanding Wrestler at the 1992 NCAA Tournament.
- Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar (born July 12, 1977) is an American mixed martial artist, former professional and amateur wrestler, best known for his professional wrestling career in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He is currently signed to K-1 HERO'S.
- Rulon Gardner
Rulon Gardner (born August 16, 1971 in Afton, Wyoming) is an amateur wrestler in the Greco-Roman discipline from the United States. His strength is often attributed to the physical labor on the dairy farm he grew up on. He graduated from Ricks College (BYU-Idaho) with an Associates Degree and the University of Nebraska. He has his teaching credentials in Physical Education, yet he has never taught in the classroom.
- Cael Sanderson
"'Cael Norman Sanderson" (born June 20, 1979 in Salt Lake City, Utah), <i>(pronounced "kale")</i> is an American wrestler and current head wrestling coach at Iowa State. A 2004 Olympic champion, he also went undefeated in four years of college wrestling (159-0), including four consecutive NCAA titles (1999-2002) and was the first NCAA wrestler to go undefeated with more than 100 wins. Sports Illustrated named his college career as the No.
- Jeff Blatnick
Jeff Blatnick (born July 26, 1957 in Schenectady, New York) is a former American Super Heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler and cancer survivor. Blatnick began his career wrestling in 1973 at Niskayuna High School in Niskayuna, New York. While wrestling for Niskayuna, Blatnick became the state heavyweight champion in 1975. After graduating from Niskayuna, he attended and wrestled for Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts.
- Mikael Ljungberg
Mikael Ljungberg was a Swedish wrestler from Gothenburg. He competed for Örgryte IS's wrestling section. Ljungberg was one of the most successful Swedish wrestlers ever. He won World Championship gold medals in 1993 and 1995, European Championship gold medals in 1995 and 1999, and an Olympic gold medal in 2000. In the summer of 2004, the Complete Book of the Olympics 2004 edition wrongly reported Mikael Ljungberg had been suspended in 1994 for using doping.
- Terry Brands
Terry Brands (born April 9, 1968 in Omaha, Nebraska) is an American Olympic wrestler who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. While wrestling at the University of Iowa, Brands won NCAA titles in 1990 and 1992, both at 126 pounds. He was a two-time world freestyle champion at 57 kg, winning titles in 1993 and 1995. His twin brother, Tom Brands, a fellow wrestler, won a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- Moon Eui-Jae
Moon Eui-Jae (born February 10, 1975) is a South Korean wrestler who won two Olympic silver medals in freestyle wrestling, Men's Freestyle 76 kg at the 2000 Summer Olympics and Men's Freestyle 84 kg in Athens in 2004. In Sydney, he actually lost his semi-final and won the bronze medal match, but was awarded the silver medal later after the disqualification of Alexander Leipold due to a drug infraction. He was also runner-up at the World Championships in 1998 and 2001, …
- Anders Ahlgren
Anders Oscar Ahlgren was a Swedish wrestler who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics and in the 1920 Summer Olympics. He won the silver medal in the light heavyweight class. In a remarkable final, he wrestled for nine hours against the other finalist the Finnish wrestler Ivar Böhling before it was declared a draw. The judges refused to award a gold medal, stating that the champion had to have won the final match.
- Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture (born June 22, 1963) is a Greco-Roman wrestler, folkstyle wrestler, and professional mixed martial arts fighter. He is the current UFC Heavyweight Champion and a member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He is the only athlete to have held championship titles in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as the only five-time champion in UFC history, earning him the nicknames "The Natural" and, …
- Bobby Lashley
Franklin Roberto (Bobby) Lashley (born July 16 1976) is an American professional wrestler better known as Bobby Lashley. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its "RAW" brand.
- Magomed Ibragimov
Magomed Ibragimov (born July 22, 1974) competed in the Men's Freestyle 85 kg at the 2000 Summer Olympics and won the bronze medal. He competed for Macedonia.
- Mkkhitar Manukyan
Mkkhitar Manukyan (born September 20, 1973 in Leninakan, Armenia) is an Kazakhstani wrestler, of Armenian descent, who competed in the Men's Greco-Roman 66 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the bronze medal. He won the World Championship in 63 kg twice, in 1998 and 1999.
- Magomed Ibragimov
Magomed Ibragimov (born August 18, 1983 in Makhachkala, Russia) is an Uzbek wrestler who competed in the Men's Freestyle 96 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal.
- Dave Schultz
David Leslie Schultz was an Olympic and World champion freestyle wrestler. Regarded as a tireless competitor and supreme tactician on the mat, he was beloved throughout the world of amateur wrestling for his friendliness and eagerness to lend help or advice to team-mates and opponents alike.
- Matt Lindland
Matthew James "The Law" Lindland (born May 17 1970) is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and Olympic wrestler.
- Bruce Baumgartner
Bruce Robert Baumgartner (born November 2, 1960, in Haledon, New Jersey) is a retired American amateur wrestler and current Director of Athletics for the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Baumgartner is a four-time Olympian and owns four Olympic Medals: two gold, one silver and one bronze. He holds a Bachelors degree in education from Indiana State University.
- Il Kim
Il Kim (born July 25, 1971) is a North Korean wrestler who won Olympic gold medals in men's freestyle wrestling, light flyweight (<48 kg), in 1992 and 1996. He won silver at the 1991 World Championships. In 2006, he was inducted into the Federation Internationale de Luttes Associees Hall of Fame.
- Nasuh Akar
Nasuh Akar, was a Turkish sports wrestler, who won the gold medal in the Bantamweight class of Men's Freestyle category at the 1948 Olympics. He was born in the village Yiğitler (today Sorsavuş) of Boğazlıyan district of Yozgat. Following his gold medal win at the 1948 London Olympics, Nasuh Akar became European and World champion. In 1952, he retired from active wrestling and served then as trainer. He died on May 18, 1984. His wife Ayşe Akar succeeded him.
- Artiom Kiouregkian
Artiom Kiouregkian (born September 9, 1976) is an Greek wrestler, of Armenian descent, who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling.
- Bobby Douglas
Bobby Douglas is a famed wrestling coach and Olympian. Douglas was one of the few wrestlers to have defeated Dan Gable during Gable's ilustrious career. He is in the Hall of Fame. In his career, he has coached many Olympians who placed in the top three in the world. He coached the Iowa State wrestling team for many years before stepping down in favor of Cael Sanderson in 2006.
- Garrett Lowney
Steven Garrett Lowney (born October 3, 1979 in Appleton, Wisconsin) is an American Greco-Roman wrestler. Lowney wrestled for the University of Minnesota under former Army Special Forces coach J Robinson. He also won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Also a member of the 2004 Summer Olympics team
- Kenny Monday
Kenny Monday (born November 25, 1961 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an Olympic gold medalist and three-time All-American wrestler from Oklahoma State University. He began wrestling at age six at a YMCA after-school program and grew up idolizing Olympic wrestler Wayne Wells. He is a 3X Olympian. Monday attended Booker T. Washington High School, where he wrestled for Coach Ernie Jones, and won four state titles and the 1977 Junior National championship.
- Alireza Dabir
Alireza Dabir (born September 16, 1977) is a champion freestyle wrestler from Iran. Dabir won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 as well as the World Championship in 1998. He was runner-up in 1999, 2001, and 2002. In the Athens Olympics, Dabir lost his first two matches due to a severe shoulder injury. He is currently a master's student in government management.
- Eldar Kurtanidze
Eldar Kurtanidze, also known as Luka Kurtanidze (born April 16, 1972) is a Georgian wrestler. He has been a senior professional freestyle wrestler since 1992. He was a bronze medallist in both the Men's Freestyle 90 kg at the 1996 Summer Olympics and also Men's Freestyle 97 kg at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He also competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics, but was eliminated early. In addition to his Olympic bronzes, he has two gold medals, two silver medals, …
- Fritz Aanes
Fritz Aanes, is a Norwegian Greco-Roman wrestler. He competed in Wrestling at the 2004 Olympics in the 84 kg category. However on a drugs test he was tested positive for the banned substance Nandrolone.
- Karam Gaber
Karam Ibrahim Gaber is an Egyptian wrestler. He won the gold medal in the Men's Greco-Roman 96 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and won the silver medal at the 2003 World Championships. Gaber won with a gap of 10 points (10-0) at the 2004 Olympics Greco-Roman finals. Gaber competed in a mixed martial arts match against Kazuyuki Fujita at K-1's "Dynamite" event on December 31, 2004. Ibrahim lost by knockout at 1:07 into the first round.
- Chris Pendleton
Chris Pendleton (born January 21, 1982) is an American amateur wrestler. Competing for Oklahoma State University, Pendleton won the NCAA Division I wrestling titles at 174 pounds in 2004 and 2005, and was a 3-time collegiate All-American. He defeated Ben Askren of Missouri for both of his titles. Pendleton has beaten Askren almost every time they have wrestled, and he provoked some controversy after telling a reporter that there was no "rivalry" between them, …
- Kazuyuki Fujita
Kazuyuki Fujita is a Japanese professional wrestler, a mixed martial arts fighter and a former amateur wrestler. In MMA, he holds wins over Ken Shamrock, Gilbert Yvel, Mark Kerr, James Thompson and Bob Sapp.
- Jim Zalesky
Jim Zalesky is the college wrestling coach for the Oregon State Beavers and a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Prior to joining the Beavers, he was the coach of the University of Iowa wrestling team from 1998-2006. At Iowa, he directly succeeded Dan Gable, of whom he was a three-time NCAA champion under. He guided the Hawkeyes to team national championships in 1998, 1999, and 2000.