COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Lindsey Durlacher, a Greco-Roman wrestling star who passed away unexpectedly last month, was memorialized today at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Following a service to celebrate Durlacher's life, both a bench and a tree were dedicated in his honor at the training complex.

The memorial and dedications were the result of a combined effort between the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Wrestling and the Durlacher family.

Durlacher passed away in his sleep at the age of 36 on June 4 in Denver. He was a longtime resident athlete at the OTC.

"Lindsey showed skill, character and dedication both on and off the mat, and we were proud to have him as a resident athlete at the Colorado Springs OTC," said Mike English, USOC chief of sport operations. "While his untimely passing was a huge loss for the sport community, we hope that these memorials will help perpetuate his legacy."

"It is a fitting tribute to one of our great champions," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "He was a mainstay of our U.S. Olympic Training Center resident wrestling program. We are pleased that his memory will live forever with a bench and tree in his honor in this special setting."

The bench is located outside the OTC's Sports Center II building, which houses the wrestling room, the weightlifting gym, the strength & conditioning gym and USA Weightlifting. 

A plaque is placed on this bench which reads:
Presented by the Durlacher Family and USA Wrestling
In Memory of Lindsey Durlacher
2006 World Bronze Medalist
Greco-Roman Wrestling Resident Athlete

Meanwhile, the tree is located in a nearby courtyard outside the USA Shooting building, just a few steps from the gymnasium in Sports Center I, where Durlacher competed in a number of wrestling competitions.

A plaque will be located near this tree which reads:
In Memory of World Bronze Medalist
Lindsey Durlacher  1974-2011
Greco-Roman Wrestling Resident Athlete

"This is a huge honor for Lindsey," said Michael and Dave Durlacher, Lindsey's brothers. "So many great athletes come through the U.S. Olympic Training Center and we are really appreciative of this recognition."

Durlacher was a bronze medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2006 International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) World Championships in Guangzhou, China. In addition, he placed fifth at the 2007 FILA World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, helping lead the United States to its first-ever world team title in Greco-Roman wrestling. He was also a member of the 2005 U.S. World Team.