LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The Federation Internationale de Luttes Associees, the international Olympic governing body for the sport of wrestling, will induct its first woman ever into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Canada's Christine Nordhagen-Vierling, a five-time World Champion, will join eight other international superstars-four in men's freestyle and four in Greco-Roman wrestling-as 2006 honorees in the Hall.

"On behalf of the FILA Hall of Fame Commission, I am proud to announce the nine candidates who were selected to be inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame," said Larry Sciacchetano, President of the FILA Hall of Fame Commission. "This class of inductees represents an incredible 30 individual world titles and eight Olympic gold medals along with the first female wrestler to be honored."

Joining Nordhagen-Vierling in the Hall are freestyle wrestlers: Soslan Andiev, Soviet Union, two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time World champion; Leri Chabelov, Russia, 1992 Olympic gold medalist and five-time World champion;; Il Kim, People's Republic of Korea, two-time Olympic gold medalist and World champion; and Shozo Sasahara, Japan, 1956 Olympic gold medalist and 1954 World champion.

The Greco-Roman honorees include: Frank Andersson, Sweden, four-time World champion and 1984 Olympic bronze medalist; Nikolai Balboshin, Soviet Union, five-time World Champion and 1976 Olympic gold medalist; Maik Bullman, Germany, three-time World Champion and 1992 Olympic gold medalist; and Islam Dugushiev, Azerbaijan, four-time World champion and 1992 Olympic silver medalist.

The inaugural class of the FILA International Hall of Fame was inducted in 2003 and additional honorees have been added each year since. The permanent display of International Hall of Fame honorees is housed at the Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Okla.

New members will be inducted at World Wrestling Championships on Sept. 23-Oct. 2 in Guangzhou, China. Each new member will receive an award as well as recognition in Stillwater.

Female Honoree
Christine Nordhagen-Vierling, Canada 

Men's Freestyle Honorees
Soslan Andiev, Soviet Union
Leri Chabelov, Russia
Il Kim, North Korea 
Shozo Sasahara, Japan 

Men's Greco Roman Honorees
Frank Andersson, Swedan
Nikolai Balboshin, Soviet Union
Maik Bullmann, Germany
Islam Dugushiev, Azerbaijan