“RIP”: Wrestling Community Mourns the Loss of Legendary Coach at 79

Greco-Roman wrestling is currently bleeding in the USA. At the Paris Olympics, no one from Team USA could stand on the podium. However, Kamal Bey, the most revered name among the Greco-Roman wrestlers in the USA, had to post on X repeatedly to defend the sport to his countrymen. The disappointed wrestler could add, “The most popular style of wrestling internationally is Greco Roman. Most Americans won’t even take time to learn the sport that’s why it’s uninteresting to most.” But there had been a time when the American fans were accustomed to seeing their preferred Greco-Roman wrestlers taking the country high in the Olympic medal tally. Now, the veteran, who had helped the squad to make it several times, breathed his last today. 

As per the update, Pavel Katsen, 79, is no more. The former head coach of the US Greco-Roman wrestling was famous for his role in making the sport a household name in the USA. After all, he mentored the 1988 US Greco-Roman wrestling team for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Apart from holding the 100 kg weight class bronze medalist Dennis Koslowski, the team featured three wrestlers, entering the top 10 list in that Olympics. So in a moment when the Greco-Roman wrestling style is hitting the low, his death has come as a tremendous blow. Meanwhile, acknowledging Katsen’s contribution to the sport, a fan wrote, “He was a breath of fresh air, and had nothing but encouragement and good things to say to everyone. RIP, Pavel! We loved you.”

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