Aleksandr Karelin

Aleksandr Karelin, born on September nineteenth, nineteen sixty-seven, is a distinguished Russian politician and retired athlete, renowned for his unparalleled achievements in Greco-Roman wrestling. Competing for both the Soviet Union and Russia from nineteen eighty-six to two thousand, he earned the monikers 'Russian Bear', 'Russian King Kong', and 'Alexander the Great', reflecting his formidable presence on the mat. Widely regarded as the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of all time, Karelin's legacy is marked by his extraordinary record of eight hundred eighty-seven wins against only two losses, both of which were highly controversial.

Throughout his illustrious career, Karelin secured gold medals at the Olympic Games in nineteen eighty-eight, nineteen ninety-two, and nineteen ninety-six, representing three different flags: the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia. He also claimed a silver medal at the two thousand Olympics, where he faced a rare defeat to American wrestler Rulon Gardner. Notably, prior to this loss, Karelin had not allowed a single point to be scored against him in competition for six consecutive years.

In addition to his Olympic success, Karelin's dominance extended to the World Championships, where he remained undefeated, amassing nine gold medals, and he further distinguished himself with twelve gold medals at the European Championships. His twelve gold medals at the world level are the most in men’s wrestling history across both freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines, and his total of thirteen world-level medals ties him for the all-time record in men’s wrestling history.

Recognized for his exceptional contributions to the sport, Karelin was named the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of the twentieth century by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) and was inducted into the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame in two thousand three. His accolades include being awarded the 'Golden Belt' as the best wrestler of the planet four times, and he was honored as a Hero of the Russian Federation in nineteen ninety-six.

Transitioning from athletics to politics, Karelin was elected as a deputy of the State Duma in nineteen ninety-nine, serving through various convocations until two thousand twenty, when he became a senator in the Federation Council. His journey from the wrestling mat to the political arena exemplifies his commitment to serving his country.