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The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling 

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Updated July 12, 2020 2.4k votes 464 voters 14.5k views

List of the best freestyle wrestling Olympic athletes of all time, with photos of the athletes when available. The famous freestyle wrestling event Olympians on this list are all regarded as some of the toughest athletes to have ever competed at the Olympics. Almost every one of these historic freestyle wrestling Olympians have taken home a medal, which is why they've earned a spot on this list.

Only the greatest freestyle wrestling Olympic athletes are featured on the front page of this list, so be sure to vote for who you believe are the best freestyle wrestling athletes and vote down the ones you disagree with. This list below has a variety of Olympians on it, including legends such as Henry Cejudo and WWE superstar Kurt Angle.

If you enjoyed this list of the best Olympic freestyle wrestlers, head on over and check out this list of popular Russian Olympians.

list ordered by
1
Buvaisar Saitiev is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
BaruchLalaev added Age: 43

Olympic Country: Russia

Date Of Birth: 1975-03-11

Place Of Birth: Khasavyurt, Russia, Europe, Asia, North Eurasia, + more

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Welterweight, Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Welterweight, Wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Welterweight

Weight: 74.0

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Welterweight 66-74kg, Men's freestyle Wrestling, Welterweight 68-74 kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics, 1996 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: 3 Gold medals

Buvaisar Hamidovich Saitiev, also spelled Buvaysar Hamidovich Saytiev, (Russian: Бувайсар Хамидович Сайтиев, Chechen: Сайт КIант Бувайса) (born March 11, 1975 in Khasavyurt, Dagestan ASSR) is a ...more
2
Alexander Medved is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
BaruchLalaev added Alexander Medved Age: 81

Olympic Country: Soviet Union

Date Of Birth: 1937-09-16

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Super Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 1964 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Light Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 1968 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Heavyweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Wrestling, Freestyle Super Heavyweight + 100kg, Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Light Heavyweight 87-97 kg, Men's Freestyle Wrestling, + more

Olympic Medalist Games: 1972 Summer Olympics, 1964 Summer Olympics, 1968 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Aleksandr Vasiliyevich Medved (born 16 September 1937) is a retired freestyle wrestler who competed for the Soviet Union and was named by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling ...more
3
Ivan Yarygin is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Ivan Yarygin Dec. at 49 (1948-1997)

Date Of Birth: 1948-11-07

Place Of Birth: Kemerovo, Russia, Kemerovo Oblast, Europe, Asia, + more

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Heavyweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Heavyweight 90-100kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 1976 Summer Olympics, 1972 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Ivan Sergeyevich Yarygin (7 November 1948 – 11 October 1997) was a Soviet and Russian heavyweight freestyle wrestler. Between 1970 and 1980 he won all his international competitions, except for ...more
4
John Smith is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Age: 53

Date Of Birth: 1965-08-09

Place Of Birth: Oklahoma City, United States of America, Oklahoma, Canadian County, Oklahoma County, + more

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Featherweight, Wrestling at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Featherweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Featherweight 57-62kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 1988 Summer Olympics, 1992 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

John William Smith (born August 9, 1965) is an American folkstyle and freestyle wrestler and coach. He is a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, and a six-time world and Olympic champion. ...more
5
Levan Tediashvili is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Levan Tediashvili Age: 70

Date Of Birth: 1948-03-15

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Light Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Middleweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's freestyle wrestling, light heavyweight 90kg, Men's freestyle wrestling, Middleweight 74-82 kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 1976 Summer Olympics, 1972 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Levan Tediashvili (Georgian: ლევან თედიაშვილი; born 15 March 1948 in Gegmoubani, Georgian SSR) is a former Soviet (Georgian) wrestler and Olympic champion in Freestyle wrestling in 1972 and ...more
6
Bruce Baumgartner is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Age: 58

Date Of Birth: 1960-11-02

Place Of Birth: Haledon, New Jersey, Passaic County, United States of America, United States, + more

Nationality: United States of America

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Super Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 1984 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Super Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Super Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Super Heavyweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Super Heavyweight 100-130 kg, Men's Wrestling, Freestyle Super Heavyweight + 100kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 1988 Summer Olympics, 1984 Summer Olympics, 1992 Summer Olympics, 1996 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal, Gold medal, Bronze medal

Bruce Robert Baumgartner (born November 2, 1960) is a retired American amateur wrestler and current assistant vice president for university advancement and former athletic director at the ...more
7
Sergei Beloglazov is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Age: 62

Date Of Birth: 1956-09-16

Place Of Birth: Kaliningrad, Russia, Kaliningrad Oblast, Europe, Asia, + more

Nationality: Russia

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1980 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Bantamweight, Wrestling at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Bantamweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Bantamweight 52-57 kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 1980 Summer Olympics, 1988 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Sergei Alekseevich Beloglazov (Russian: Серге́й Алексеевич Белоглазов, born September 16, 1956 in Kaliningrad) is a former Olympic wrestler and World Champion. He trained at the Armed Forces ...more
8
Yaşar Doğu is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Yaşar Doğu Dec. at 48 (1913-1961)

Date Of Birth: 1913

Place Of Birth: Samsun, Turkey, Black Sea Region, Europe, Asia, + more

Yaşar Doğu (1913 – 8 January 1961), was a renowned Turkish World and Olympic champion sports wrestler in Greco-Roman and Freestyle. He was born in the village Karlı of Kavak district in Samsun ...more
9
Ahmet Ayık is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Age: 80

Date Of Birth: 1938-03-31

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1964 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Light Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 1968 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Light Heavyweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Light Heavyweight 87-97 kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 1964 Summer Olympics, 1968 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal, Gold medal

Ahmet Ayık (born March 31, 1938), is a former Turkish World champion and Olympic medalist sports wrestler in the Light heavyweight class (97 kg) and a sports executive. He won the silver medal ...more
10
Mavlet Batirov is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Age: 35

Olympic Country: Russia

Date Of Birth: 1983-12-12

Olympic Sport: Freestyle wrestling

Nationality: Russia

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Featherweight, Wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Bantamweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Featherweight 55 - 60 kg, Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Bantamweight 55kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics

Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Mavlet Alavdinovich Batirov (Russian: Мавлет Алавдинович Батиров, born December 12, 1983) is a Russian freestyle wrestler, world and 2-time Olympic champion, who competed in the men's freestyle ...more
11
Arsen Fadzayev is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
BaruchLalaev added Age: 56

Date Of Birth: 1962-09-05

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Lightweight, Wrestling at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Lightweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle, Lightweight 62-68kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 1988 Summer Olympics, 1992 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Arsen Suleymanovich Fadzayev (Russian: Арсен Сулейманович Фадзаев; born 5 September 1962, in Chikola, North Ossetia–Alania, Russia) is a former Soviet wrestler, world champion and Olympic ...more
12
Kaori Icho is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Age: 34

Date Of Birth: 1984-06-13

Nationality: Japan

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's Freestyle Middleweight, Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's Freestyle Middleweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Women's Freestyle Wrestling, Middleweight 55 - 63 kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Kaori Icho (Japanese: 伊調 馨, Hepburn: Icho Kaori, born 13 June 1984) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. She is a ten-time World Champion and four-time Olympic Champion, winning gold in 2004, 2008, ...more
13
Artur Taymazov is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
jared-diehl added Age: 39

Date Of Birth: 1979-07-20

Place Of Birth: Vladikavkaz, Russia, Europe, Asia, North Eurasia, + more

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Super Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Super Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Super Heavyweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Super Heavyweight 96-120 kg, Freestyle Super Heavyweight 97-130 kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics, 2000 Summer Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal, Silver medal

Artur Taymazov (Ossetian: Таймазты Барисы фырт Артур; Russian: Артур Борисович Таймазов; born 20 July 1979) is an Ossetian-Uzbek-Russian wrestler and politician. He was Uzbekistan's most ...more
14
Makharbek Khadartsev is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Age: 54

Date Of Birth: 1964-10-02

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Light Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Light Heavyweight, Wrestling at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Light Heavyweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's freestyle wrestling, light heavyweight 90kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 1988 Summer Olympics, 1996 Summer Olympics, 1992 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal, Silver medal

Makharbek Khasbiyevich Khadartsev (Russian: Махарбек Хазбиевич Хадарцев) (born 2 October 1964 in Suadag, Alagirsky District, North Ossetia) is a former Soviet wrestler who later competed for ...more
15
Yojiro Uetake is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Age: 76

Date Of Birth: 1943-01-12

Place Of Birth: Tatebayashi, Japan, Kantō region, Gunma Prefecture, Earth, + more

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1964 summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Bantamweight, Wrestling at the 1968 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle bantamweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Bantamweight 52-57 kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 1964 Summer Olympics, 1968 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Yojiro Uetake (上武 洋次郎, Uetake Yōjirō, born January 12, 1943) is a Japanese wrestler and Olympic champion in Freestyle wrestling. He is considered the greatest wrestler in history of Oklahoma ...more
16
Helen Louise Maroulis is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Helen Louise Maroulis Age: 27

Date Of Birth: 1991-09-19

Place Of Birth: Rockville, Maryland, United States of America

Weight: 57.15
17
Sofia Mattsson is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Age: 29

Olympic Country: Sweden

Date Of Birth: 1989-11-11

Olympic Sport: Freestyle wrestling

Nationality: Sweden

Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics

Sofia Magdalena Mattsson (born 11 November 1989) is a Swedish wrestler, who has won a World Championship, four European championships and an Olympic bronze medal.
18
Hüseyin Akbaş is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Алпан Балкыш added Hüseyin Akbaş

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1956 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Flyweight, Wrestling at the 1964 summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Bantamweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Bantamweight 52-57 kg, Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Flyweight -52kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 1956 Summer Olympics, 1964 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal, Silver medal

Hüseyin Akbaş was a Turkish wrestler. He was born in Almus in the Tokat Province. He was Olympic bronze medalist in Freestyle wrestling in 1956, and silver medalist in 1964. He won gold ...more
19
Jenny Fransson is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Age: 31

Olympic Country: Sweden

Date Of Birth: 1987-07-18

Olympic Sport: Freestyle wrestling

Nationality: Sweden

Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics

Jenny Fransson (born 18 July 1987 in Karlstad) is a female freestyle wrestler from Sweden who participated in Women's freestyle wrestling 72 kg at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. At the ...more
20
Abdulrashid Sadulaev is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
ultimateposer added Abdulrashid Sadulaev
21
Adam Saitiev is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
BaruchLalaev added Age: 41

Date Of Birth: 1977-12-12

Place Of Birth: Khasavyurt, Russia, Europe, Asia, North Eurasia, + more

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle Middleweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Middleweight 76-85 kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 2000 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Adam Hamidovich Saitiev, also spelled Saytiev, (Chechen: Адам Хамидович Сайтиев, born December 12, 1977) is a Russian wrestler of Chechen heritage, who won gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics for ...more
22
Dzhamal Otarsultanov is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
BaruchLalaev added Dzhamal Otarsultanov Age: 31

Olympic Country: Russia

Date Of Birth: 1987-04-14

Place Of Birth: Dagestan, Russia

Olympic Sport: Freestyle wrestling

Nationality: Russia

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 55 kg

Weight: 55

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Bantamweight 55kg

Olympic Medalist Games: The London 2012 Summer Olympics

Olympic Games Participant: The London 2012 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Dzhamal Sultanovich Otarsultanov is a male Russian wrestler of Chechen heritage, who won the gold medal in men's freestyle 55 kg at the 2012 London Olympics.
23
Saori Yoshida is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Age: 36

Olympic Country: Japan

Date Of Birth: 1982-10-05

Place Of Birth: Tsu, Japan, Kansai, Mie Prefecture, Earth, + more

Olympic Sport: Freestyle wrestling

Nationality: Japan

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's Freestyle Lightweight, Wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's Freestyle Lightweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Women's Freestyle Wrestling, Lightweight 48 - 55kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics

Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Saori Yoshida (吉田 沙保里, Yoshida Saori, born 5 October 1982) is a former Japanese freestyle wrestler. Starting in 1998 she won almost every major competition, including three Olympic Games, four ...more
24
Ramazan Şahin is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
BaruchLalaev added Ramazan Şahin Age: 35

Date Of Birth: 1983-07-08

Place Of Birth: Makhachkala, Russia, Europe, Asia, North Eurasia, + more

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Lightweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Lightweight 60-66 kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal

Ramazan Şahin (born Ramzan Irbaikhanov, Russian: Рамзан Ирбайханов, on 8 July 1983) is a Russian-Turkish freestyle wrestler of Chechen descent. He won gold medals at the 2007 World ...more
25
Mariya Stadnik is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Olympic Athletes in Freestyle Wrestling
Age: 30

Olympic Country: Azerbaijan

Date Of Birth: 1988-06-03

Place Of Birth: Lviv, Ukraine, Lviv Oblast, Europe, Earth, + more

Olympic Sport: Freestyle wrestling

Nationality: Azerbaijan

Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's Freestyle Flyweight

Olympic Medalist Event: Women's Freestyle Wrestling, Flyweight 48 kg

Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics

Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics

Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal

Mariya Stadnik (Ukrainian: Марія Василівна Стадник; Mariya Vasylivna Stadnyk; born 3 June 1988) is a Ukrainian (until 2007) and Azerbaijani (since 2007) female wrestler. She is a three-time ...more