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
Azerbaijan
Australia
- Richard Garrard – 1948 Olympic Silver Medalist
- Eddie Scarf – 1932 Olympic Bronze Medalist
Austria
- Nikolaus Hirschl – 1932 Olympic 2x Bronze Medalist, European Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, 10x Austrian Heavyweight Wrestling Champion
Belarus
Belgium
- Joseph Mewis – 1956 Olympic Silver Medalist
Bulgaria
- Armen Nazarian – 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 1996&2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Valentin Yordanov – 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
- Dimitar Dobrev – 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist (73 – 79 kg), 1956 Olympic Silver Medalist (73 – 79 kg)
- Petko Sirakov – 1956 Olympic Silver Medalist (79 – 87 kg)
- Nikola Stanchev – 1956 Olympic Gold Medalist (73 – 79 kg)
- Hussein Mehmedov – 1956 Olympic Silver Medalist (+ 87 kg)
- Dinko Petrov – 1960 Olympic Bronze Medalist (52 – 57 kg)
- Krali Bimbalov – 1960 Olympic Silver Medalist (79 – 87 kg)
- Nezhdet Zalev – 1960 Olympic Silver Medalist (52 – 57 kg)
- Stancho Ivanov – 1960 Olympic Silver Medalist (57 – 62 kg)
- Enyu Valchev – 1960 Olympic Bronze Medalist (62 – 67 kg), 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist (62 – 67 kg), 1968 Olympic Silver Medalist (63 – 70 kg), 1962 World Gold Medalist (62 – 67 kg)
- Angel Kerezov – 1964 Olympic Silver Medalist (- 52 kg)
- Kiril Todorov – 1964 Olympic Silver Medalist (70 – 78 kg)
- Boyan Radev – 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist (87 – 97 kg), 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist (87 – 97 kg)
- Stancho Kolev – 1964 Olympic Silver Medalist (57 – 63 kg)
- Prodan Gardzhev – 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist (78 – 87 kg), 1968 Olympic Bronze Medalist (78 – 87 kg)
- Said Mustafov – 1964 Olympic Bronze Medalist (87 – 97 kg)
- Lyutvi Akhmedov – 1964 Olympic Silver Medalist (+ 97 kg)
- Enyu Todorov – 1968 Olympic Silver Medalist (57 – 63 kg)
- Osman Duraliev – 1968 Olympic Silver Medalist (+ 97 kg)
- Petar Kirov – 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist (- 52 kg), 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist (48 – 52 kg)
- Ognyan Nikolov – 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist (- 48 kg)
- Ivan Krastev – 1972 Olympic Bronze Medalist (57 – 62 kg)
- Osman Duraliev – 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist (+ 100)
- Stefan Angelov – 1972 Olympic Bronze Medalist (- 48 kg), 1976 Olympic Bronze Medalist (- 48 kg)
- Georgi Markov – 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist (57 – 62 kg)
- Stoyan Apostolov – 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist (62 – 68 kg)
- Aleksandar Tomov – 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist (+ 100), 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist (+ 100), 1980 Olympic Silver Medalist (+ 100)
- Khasan Isaev – 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist (- 48 kg)
- Dimo Kostov – 1976 Olympic Bronze Medalist (90 – 100 kg)
- Ivan Kolev – 1976 Olympic Bronze Medalist (74 – 82 kg)
- Stoyan Ivanov – 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist (82 – 90 kg)
- Kamen Goranov – 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist (90 – 100 kg)
- Nermedin Selimov – 1980 Olympic Bronze Medalist (48 – 52 kg)
- Miho Dukov – 1980 Olympic Silver Medalist (57 – 62 kg)
- Ivan Yankov – 1980 Olympic Silver Medalist (62 – 68 kg)
- Valentin Raychev – 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist (68 – 74 kg)
- Ismail Abilov – 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist (74 – 82 kg)
- Slavcho Chervenkov – 1980 Olympic Silver Medalist (90 – 100 kg)
- Mladen Mladenov – 1980 Olympic Bronze Medalist (48 – 52 kg)
- Pavel Pavlov – 1980 Olympic Bronze Medalist (74 – 82 kg)
- Georgi Raikov – 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist (90 – 100 kg)
- Ivan Tzonov – 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist (- 48 kg)
- Simeon Shterev – 1988 Olympic Bronze Medalist (57 – 62 kg)
- Rahmat Sukra – 1988 Olympic Bronze Medalist (68 – 74 kg)
- Bratan Tzenov – 1988 Olympic Bronze Medalist (- 48 kg)
- Stoyan Balov – 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist (52 – 57 kg)
- Zhivko Vangelov – 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist (57 – 62 kg)
- Atanas Komchev – 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist (82 – 90 kg)
- Rangel Gerovski – 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist (+ 130 kg)
- Valentin Yordanov – 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist (48 – 52 kg), 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist (48 – 52 kg)
- Valentin Getzov – 1992 Olympic Silver Medalist (62 – 68 kg)
- Serafim Barzakov – 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist (58 – 63 kg)
- Radoslav Velikov – 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist (- 54 kg)
- Kiril Terziev – 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist (66 – 74 kg)
- Yavor Yanakiev – 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist (66 – 74 kg)
Canada
China
Cuba
Czechoslovakia
- Josef Urban – 1932 Olympic Silver Medalist
Denmark
- Henrik Hansen – 1948 Olympic Bronze Medalist
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
- 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
Finland
Georgia
Germany
Great Britain
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
- Sandor Istvan Bardozi – 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist
India
Iran
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan
Korea, North
- Ri Yong-Sam – 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist
- Kang Yong-Gyun – 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist
- Kim II – 1996, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalists
Korea, South
Lebanon
Republic of Macedonia
Moldova
- Serguei Moureiko – 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist
Mongolia
Norway
Pakistan
Poland
Romania
- Ioan Grigoras – 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist
Russia
- Khasan Baroyev – 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist
- Sazhid Sazhidov – 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist
- Alexander Karelin – FILA Greatest Wrestler of 20th Century (Greco-Roman), 1988, 1992, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, 9 X World Champion. He lost 1 match in 13 years to Rulon Gardner.
- Buvaysa Saytiev – 1996, 2004, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist 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, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Gouzel Maniourova – 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist
- Alan Dudaev – 2005 World Champion
- Khadjimourat Gatsalov – 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Nazir Mankiev – 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Islambek Albiev – 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Aslanbek Khushtov – 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Shirvani Muradov – 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Mourad Oumakhanov – 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Adam Saitiev – 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Sagid Murtazaliev – 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
- David Musulbes – 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Murat Kardanov – 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Alexei Michine – 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Khadzhimurad Magomedov – 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Vadim Bogiyev – 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist
- See USSR for all pre-1988 wrestlers in the Russian/USSR region.
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, later became known for his antics during 2008 Olympics where he was stripped of his bronze
- Sofia Mattsson – 2007 European Bronze Medalist, 2008 European Silver Medalist
Switzerland
- Adolf Müller – 1948 Olympic Bronze Medalist
Turkey
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
- Makharbek Khadartsev – 1988, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist, 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist
- Shazam Safin – 1952 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Shamil Khisamutdinov – 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Farhat Mustafin – 1976 Olympic Bronze Medallist
- Vladimir Bakulin −1968 Olympic Silver Medallist
- Ivan Koschergin – 1968 Bronze Medallist
- Valentin Oleynick – 1968 Silver Medallist
- Nikolai Yakovenko- 1968 Silver Medallist, 1972 Silver medallist
- Anatoli Roschtchin-1968 Silver Medallist, 1972 Gold Medallist
- Boris Gurowitsch- 1968 Gold Medallist
- Shota Lomidze – 1968 Silver Medallist
- Roman Dmitriev- 1972 Gold Medallist, 1976 Silver Medallist
- Arsen Allakhverdiev −1972 Silver medallist
- Zagalav Abdulbekov −1972 Gold Medallist
- Rouslan Ashuraliev- 1972 Bronze Medallist
- Levan Tediashvili – 1972 Gold Medallist, 1976 Gold Medallist
- gennadi Strachow- 1972 Silver Medallist
- Ivan Yarygin- 1972 Gold medallist, 1976 Gold Medallist
- Roustan kasakov- 1972 Gold Medallist
- Anatoli nazarenko- 1972 Silver Medallist
- Valeri Resanzev – 1972 Gold Medallist, 1976 Gold medal
- Alexej Shumakov – 1976 Gold Medallist
- Vladimir Yumin – 1976 Gold Medallist
- Pavel Pinigin – 1976 Gold Medallist
- Viktor Novishilov- 1976 Silver Medallist
- Soslan Andiev- 1976 Gold Medallist, 1980 Gold medallist
- Vitali Konstantinov – 1976 Gold Medallist
- Nelson Davidyan – 1976 Silver Medallist
- Suren Nalbandyan – 1976 Gold Medallist
- Anatoli Bykov – 1976 Gold Medallist, 1980 Silver Medal
- Vladimir Tcheboksarov 1976 Silver Medal
- Nikolai balboshin – 1976 Gold medal
- Alexander Koltchinski- 1976 Gold medal, 1980 Gold medal
- Magomed Arasilov- 1980 Silver Medal
- anatoli Belaglasov- 1980 Gold medal
Uzbekistan
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
USA
- Robert Curry – 1904 Olympic Gold Medalist
- 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 by some to be 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 – 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Mark Schultz – 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 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 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 – 1968, 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist
- Chris Taylor – 1972 Olympic Bronze Medalist
- John Peterson – 1972 Olympic Silver Medalist, 1976 Olympic Gold 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 – 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/WCW Champion/TNA Champion
- Henry Cejudo – 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist
- Lindsey Durlacher - 2006 world bronze medalist