Valeri REZANTSEV

Valery Rezantsev, who did bicycle racing in his youth and took up wrestling in 1963, wrestled exclusively as a light-heavyweight in the Greco-Roman class. He won seven consecutive championships at the Olympics and World Championships in 1970-76, winning Olympic gold in 1972 and 1976, and World gold in 1970-71, and 1973-75. Rezantsev also won European championships in 1970, 1973, and 1974. He was Soviet champion from 1970-75. After finishing his sporting career, Rezantsev has worked as a wrestling coach. Since 2009 an annual youth tournament in his honor has been held in Taganrog, Russia. In 2003, Rezantsev was one of the first ten inductees elected to the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame.