Oleg Nikolayevich Karavayev (Russian: Олег Николаевич Караваев, 20 May 1936 – 23 August 1978) was a Soviet bantamweight Greco-Roman wrestler. He won the world title in 1958 and 1961 and an Olympic gold medal in 1960.[1][2]

Oleg Karavayev
Personal information
Full nameOleg Nikolayevich Karavayev
Born20 May 1936
Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Died23 August 1978 (aged 42)
Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Height161 cm (5 ft 3 in)
Weight57 kg (126 lb)
Sport
SportGreco-Roman wrestling
ClubBurevestnik Minsk
Medal record
Representing the  Soviet Union
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1960 Rome 57 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1958 Budapest 57 kg
Gold medal – first place 1961 Yokohama 57 kg

He was Jewish.[3] Karavayev took up wrestling aged 16 and quickly became one of the most technically gifted Soviet wrestlers. Between 1956 and 1962 he rarely lost a bout, and won the Soviet title every year except for 1961. In 1964 he failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, and retired to become a wrestling coach, heading the Belorussian team through the late 1960s. From 1971 until his death he worked at his native sports society Burevestnik. The Illness in 1978 led to his death at the age 42. Since 1992, an annual wrestling tournament has been held in his honor in his native Minsk.[1][4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Oleg Karavayev". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016.
  2. ^ Karavaev, Oleg (URS). iat.uni-leipzig.de
  3. ^ "YIVO | Sport: Jews in Sport in the USSR". Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  4. ^ «Легенда №17», белорусский вариант: о ком из наших можно снять фильм? interfax.by (21 May 2013)
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