List of amateur wrestlers

A number of wrestlers competing in the freestyle, Greco-Roman, and collegiate styles, and non-profit acting Pro are famous for their amateur wrestling success.

Armenia flagicon|Armenia

*Ara Abrahamian - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist (for Sweden)
*Armen Mkertchian - 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Armen Nazarian - 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist (for Bulgaria), 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist (for Bulgaria)
*Mkkhitar Manukyan - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist (for Kazakhstan)

Azerbaijan flagicon|Azerbaijan

*Farid Mansurov - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Namig Abdullayev - 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist

Australia flagicon|Australia

*Richard Garrard - 1948 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Eddie Scarf - 1932 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Austria flagicon|Austria

*Nikolaus Hirschl - 1932 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Belarus flagicon|Belarus

*Viachaslau Makaranka - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Dmitry Debelka - 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Valeriy Tsilent - 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Belgium flagicon|Belgium

*Joseph Mewis - 1956 Olympic Silver Medalist

Bulgaria flagicon|Bulgaria

*Armen Nazarian - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 1996&2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Valentin Jordanov - 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

Canada flagicon|Canada

*Tonya Verbeek - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Daniel Igali - 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Guivi Sissaouri - 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Gary Bohay - 1989 World Silver Medalist, Canada Cup Champion and Canada Hall of Fame Recipient
*Christine Nordhagen - 2004 Olympic Bronze medallist, 6X World Champion
*Bret Hart - 1974 Alberta wrestling champion, professional wrestler

China flagicon|China

*Wang Xu - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Sheng Zetian - 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Jijun Ma - China National Team

Cuba flagicon|Cuba

*Feliberto Ascuy - 1996, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalists
*Yandro Miguel Quintana - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Juan Marén - 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 1996, 2000 Silver Medalists
*Alexis Vila - 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalists
*Roberto Monzon - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Ivan Fundora - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Yoel Romero - 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Alexis Rodriguez - 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Czechoslovakia flagicon|Czechoslovakia

*Mikuláš Athanasov - 1952 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Denmark flagicon|Denmark

*Henrik Hansen - 1948 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Egypt flagicon|Egypt

*Ibrahim Moustafa - 1928 Olympic Gold Medalist, Egypt's first Olympic Medal
*Karam Ibrahim - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist ((Greco-Roman)) was offered to work for WWE but turned down the offer as he's currently interested in Mixed Martial Arts competition

Estonia flagicon|Estonia

*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

France flagicon|France

*Henri Deglane - 1924 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Lise Legrand - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Anna Gomis - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Finland flagicon|Finland

*Marko Yli-Hannuksela - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist

*Marko Asell - 1996 silver medalist

Georgia flagicon|Georgia

*Ramaz Nozadze - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist

Germany flagicon|Germany

*Carl Schuhmann - 1896 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Arawat Sabejew - 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Fritz Schäfer - 1936 Olympic Silver Medalist

Great Britain flagicon|Great Britain

*Andrew McDonald - 1924 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Kenneth Richmond - 1952 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Noel Loban - 1984 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Greece flagicon|Greece

*Georgios Tsitas - 1896 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Stephanos Christopoulos - 1896 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Amiran Karntanov - 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Petros Galaktopoulos - 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist

Hungary flagicon|Hungary

*Sandor Istvan Bardozi - 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist

India flagicon|India

*Kha-Shaba Jadav - 1952 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Iran flagicon|Iran

*Mohammad Ali Khojastépour - 1956 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Mohammad Mehdi Yaghoubi - 1956 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Gholamreza Takhti - 1956 Olympic Gold Medalist, 1952, 1960 Olympic Silver Medalists
*Emamali Habibi Goudarzi - 1956 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Mohammad Paziraye - 1960 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Mohammad Seifpour Saidabadi - 1960 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Said Ali Akbar Heidari - 1964 Olympic Bronze Medalsit
*Mohammad Ali Sanatkaran - 1964 Olympic Bronze Medalsit
*Abutaleb Gorgori - 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Shamseddin Seyed-Abbassi - 1968 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Abdollah Movahed - 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Amirreza Khadem Azghadi - 1992, 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalists
*Rasul Khadem Azghadi - 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist, 1992 Silver Olympic Medalist
*Rasoul Khadem Azghadi - 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Abbas Jadidi - 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Alireza Dabir - 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Masoud Jokar - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Alireza Heidari - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Alireza Rezaei - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Fardin Masoumi - 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Italy flagicon|Italy

*Enrico Porro - 1908 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Vincenzo Maenza - 1984, 1988 Olympic Gold Medalists, 1992 Olympic Silver Medalist

Japan flagicon|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

Kazakhstan flagicon|Kazakhstan

*Georgiy Tsurtsumia - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Mkkhitar Manukyan - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Gennadiy Laliyev - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Islam Bairamukov - 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Yuriy Melnichenko - 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Doulet Tourlekhanov - 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist and 1987 World Champion
*Mkkhitar Manukyan - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Korea, North flagicon|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 flagicon|South Korea

*Moon Eui-Jae - 2000, 2004 Olympic Silver Medalists
*Sim Kwon-Ho - 1996, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalists
*Yang Jung-Mo - 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist

Lebanon flagicon|Lebanon

*Zakaria Chibab - 1952 Olympic Silver Medalist

*Hassan Bchara - 1980 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Republic of Macedonia flagicon|Republic of Macedonia

*Mogamed Ibragimov - 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Moldova flagicon|Moldova

*Serguei Moureiko - 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Mongolia flagicon|Mongolia

*Danzandarjaagiin Sereeter - 1968 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Tömöriin Artag - 1968 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Khorloogiin Bayanmönkh - 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Zevegiin Oidov - 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist

Norway flagicon|Norway

*Jon Rønningen - 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Aage Eriksen - 1948 Olympic Silver Medalist

Pakistan flagicon|Pakistan

*Muhammed Bashir - 1960 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Poland flagicon|Poland

*Jozef Tracz - 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Romania flagicon|Romania

*Ioan Grigoras - 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Russia flagicon|Russia

*Khasan Baroyev - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Sazhid Sazhidov - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Alexander Karelin - FILA "Greatest Wrestler of 20th Century" (Greco-Roman), 1988, 1992, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalists, 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, 9 X World Champion. He lost 1 match in 13 years to Rulon Gardner.
*Buvaysa Saytiev - 1996, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalists and 5X World Champion
*Resanchev Valeri - 2X Olympic Gold Medalist, 5X World Champion
*Varteres Samourgachev - 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Makhach Murtazaliev - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Mavlet Batirov - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Gouzel Maniourova - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Alan Dudaev - 2005 World Champion
*Khadjimourat Gatsalov - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist

weden flagicon|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
*Ara Abrahamian - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Sofia Mattsson - 2007 European Bronze Medalist, 2008 European Silver Medalist

witzerland flagicon|Switzerland

*Adolf Müller - 1948 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Turkey flagicon|Turkey

*Yaşar Erkan - 1936 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Yasar Dogu - 1948 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Gazanfer Bilge - 1948 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Hamza Yerlikaya - 1996, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalists
*Nasuh Akar - 1948 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Ahmet Kireççi - 1948 Olympic Gold Medalist, 1936 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Mustafa Dagistanli - 1956, 1960 Olympic Gold Medalists
*Hamit Kaplan - 1956 Olympic Gold Medalist, 1960 Olympic Silver Medalist, 1964 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Mithat Bayrak - 1956, 1960 Olympic Gold Medalists
*Müzahir Sille - 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Tevfik Kis - 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Ahmet Bilek - 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Hasan Güngör - 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist, 1964 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Ismet Atli - 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Ismail Ogan - 1960 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Mehmet Ozal - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Aydin Polatci - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Şeref Eroğlu - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Adem Bereket - 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist

USSR flagicon|USSR

*Aleksandr Ivanov - 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Alexander Medved - 1964, 1968, 1972 Olympic Gold Medalists, FILA "Greatest Wrestler of 20th Century" (Freestyle)
*Sergei Beloglazov - 1980, 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist, 6X World Champion

Uzbekistan flagicon|Uzbekistan

*Artur Taymazov - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Magomed Ibragimov - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Alexandr Dokturishvili - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist

Ukraine flagicon|Ukraine

*Irini Merleni - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Elbrus Tedeyev - 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Davyd Saldadze - 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Zaza Zazirov - 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist

United Arab Republic flagicon|United Arab Republic

*Osman Sayed - 1960 Olympic Silver Medalist

USA flagicon|USA

*Ralph Parcaut - 1919 Inter-Allied Games Gold Medallist, later joined the professional circuit, becoming Middleweight Champion of the World in 1920
*George Mehnert - 1904, 1908 Olympic Gold Medalist, First American to ever win this medal
*Robert Curry - 1904 Olympic Gold Medalist, Second American to ever win this medal
*Robin Reed - 1924 Olympic Gold Medalist, Never lost a match Official or nonofficial, pinned every opponent in the Olympics
*Chester Newton - 1924 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Bruce Baumgartner - 1984, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist, 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist, 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist. Has won more Olympic medals than any USA wrestler in history.
*John Smith - 1988, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist, 4X World Champion. He is considered the best wrestler in USA history.
*Dan Gable - 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist, 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 (amateur wrestler) - 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Mark Schultz (amateur wrestler) - 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, 4X NCAA Champion
*Richard Voliva - 1936 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Francis Millard - 1936 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Frank Lewis (Amateur Wrestler) 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 (Amateur Wrestler) 1952 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Peter Blair - 1956 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Danny Hodge - 1956 Olympic Silver 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
*Sergio Gonzales - 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Richard Sanders (wrestler) - 1968, 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Chris Taylor (wrestler) - 1972 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*John Peterson (wrestler) - 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Stanley Joseph Dziedzic Jr. - 1976 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*Randall Lewis - 1984 Olympics Gold Medalist
*Jamill Kelly - 2004 Olympics Silver Medalist
*Jeff Blatnick - 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Russell Owen Hellickson - 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Lloyd Weldon Keaser - 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Kevin Jackson - 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Tom Brands - 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Terry Brands - 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2X World Champion
*Edward Banach - 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Louis Banach- 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Andrew Rein - 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Barry Davis (wrestler) - 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Steve Fraser- 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist
*Lloyd Weldon Keaser - 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Eugene Lee Davis - 1976 Olympic Bronze Medalist
*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
*John Allan Peterson - 1976 Olympic Gold 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
*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
*Gregory Gibson - 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Siamak Ghaffari - 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Stephen Abas - 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Samuel Henson - 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist
*Kurt Angle - 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist and later professional wrestler WWE Champion/TNA Champion
*Jeff Funicello - 2007 World Bronze Medalist
*Cheney Haight - 2005 University World Games
*Scott Garmon - 1969 World Silver Medalist
*Henry Cejudo - 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist