RUSSIAN WRESTLING FEDERATION PRESIDENT IVAN YARYGIN, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIC CHAMPION, IS KILLED IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT 
   Two-time Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist Ivan Yarygin, the president of the Russian Wrestling Federation and an international sports leader, was killed in an automobile accident in Russia, Saturday night, October 11. Yarygin was 49 years old. 
   Yarygin also served as a member of the FILA Bureau, the governing body for the international wrestling federation. His efforts as an athlete, coach and leader were instrumental in developing the former Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation into a powerful freestyle wrestling nation. 
   "We all recognize the enormous loss to wrestling in Russia and around the world," said Larry Sciacchetano, USA Wrestling's president and also a member of the FILA Bureau. "He was a leader in the sport, and his efforts on the FILA Bureau indicated that he would have major contributions to the growth of the sport in the future." 
   "It is also a personal loss," said Sciacchetano. "He was a great friend to USA Wrestling. He was a kind and gentle man, in addition to being an enormous success. We will miss him very much as a friend, as well as a leader in the sport." 
   According to published reports, Yarygin had left the city of Makhachkala in Dagestan, and was returning to his home in Kislovodsk. He was a guest of honor at a wrestling competition in Makhachkala. Reportedly, the automobile accident occurred in Neftekoumsk, which is in the Stavropol region. 
   Yarygin won gold medals at 220 pounds at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany and the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada. He also added a gold medal at the 1973 World Championships in Teheran, Iran. 
   "His death impacted me in a very emotional fashion," said Russ Hellickson of Columbus, Ohio, the man that Yarygin defeated in the gold-medal finals of the 1976 Olympic Games. "There was a deep bond. When we competed, he was always victorious, but we had a mutual respect. He was the greatest athlete that I ever faced. It was an honor to compete against him. We became very good friends. The competition led to a strong friendship and respect. I feel a great loss. He was a great man." 
   After his competitive career, Yarygin became a successful coach, serving as the head coach of the Soviet National freestyle team during the 1980's. During that time, the Soviet Union won every World Championship team title, and was the dominant team in freestyle wrestling at the Olympic Games. 
   When Yarygin retired from coaching, he became the President of the Russian Wrestling Federation. In 1996, he was elected to a position on the FILA Bureau, the governing body of the international wrestling federation. 
   Yarygin hosted the successful 1997 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in his hometown of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Aug. 28-31. Fittingly, Russia won the team title in a dominant fashion. 
   Yarygin visited the United States many times during his career as an athlete, coach and administrator, and had many friends within the U.S. wrestling community. 
   Complete details on the accident and the funeral arrangements will be provided when they become available.