National Coaches Steve Fraser and Momir Petkovic give instructions to Lindsey Durlacher at the 2007 World Championships. Durlacher's fifth place finish helped Team USA win the World Team title. Larry Slater photo).

I am shocked and saddened by the news of our fallen Greco Champion, Lindsey Durlacher. 

Lindsey passed away unexpectedly early Saturday morning on June 4, 2011. Earlier in the week he underwent surgery to repair his sternum. He had apparently injured it previously in a snowmobile accident. 

Lindsey was a resident at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado for approximately six years. He was a bronze medalist in the 2006 World Championships where the US Greco team finished in third place. Then in the 2007 World Championships, Lindsey took fifth place, which scored valuable team points that contributed to our one point victory over Russia to win the 2007 world team title. 

As national coach I want to say how proud I am of Lindsey. He was a huge part of our historic world championship team victory in 2007 and a key player in our US Greco-Roman success over the years.  

Lindsey was a true warrior and a great member of our US Greco-Roman wrestling squad. He was also a dear friend to all of his teammates and coaches. He will be greatly missed. 

At this point we have very few details regarding Lindsey's tragic death or how his family plans to honor his life. As we get more information we will share it. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Lindsey and his family. 

Note: National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser worked with Lindsey Durlacher throughout his international Greco-Roman career, including the years which Durlacher trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Durlacher competed on three straight U.S. World Teams (2005-2007).