Soslan Andiyev facts for kids

Andiyev at the 1978 World Championships
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	21 April 1952 (1952-04-21) Vladikavkaz, Soviet Union
Died	22 November 2018(2018-11-22) (aged 66)
Height	194 cm
Weight	125 kg
Sport
Sport	Freestyle wrestling
Club	Dynamo Vladikavkaz
Coached by	Aslan Dzgoyew Genady Andiyev (brother)
Medal record Representing  Soviet Union Olympic Games Gold 1976 Montreal +100 kg Gold 1980 Moscow +100 kg World Championships Gold 1973 Tehran +100 kg Silver 1974 Katowice +100 kg Gold 1975 Minsk +100 kg Gold 1977 Gothenburg +100 kg Gold 1978 Mexico City +100 kg European Championships Gold 1974 Madrid +100 kg Gold 1975 Ludwigshafen +100 kg Gold 1982 Varna +100 kg

Soslan Petrovich Andiyev (Russian: Сослан Петрович Андиев, born April 21, 1952 – died November 22, 2018) was an amazing heavyweight freestyle wrestler from Ossetia. He was known for his incredible strength and skill on the wrestling mat.

Soslan became a true legend in the sport, winning many important competitions. He earned two gold medals at the Olympic Games, which is one of the highest honors for any athlete. He also won multiple world and European championships, showing he was the best in his weight class for many years.

Soslan Andiyev: A Wrestling Champion

Soslan Andiyev was born in Vladikavkaz, a city in what was then the Soviet Union. From a young age, he showed great talent for wrestling. He trained hard and quickly became known for his powerful moves and strong technique in freestyle wrestling. This style of wrestling allows wrestlers to use their legs to attack their opponent's legs, and it's very exciting to watch.

Olympic Gold Medals

Soslan's biggest achievements came at the Olympics. He won his first Olympic gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in Canada. He competed in the super heavyweight category, which is for wrestlers weighing over 100 kilograms (about 220 pounds). This was a huge victory for him and his country.

Four years later, Soslan proved he was still the best. He won his second Olympic gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which were held in his home country. Winning two Olympic gold medals in a row is a very rare and impressive feat in wrestling.

World and European Success

Besides his Olympic triumphs, Soslan Andiyev also dominated at other major championships.

• He won the World Championships four times: in 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1978. This shows his consistent excellence over many years.
• He also became the European Champion three times: in 1974, 1975, and again in 1982.
• Soslan was also a champion in the Soviet Union, winning the national title many times between 1973 and 1980.

He was a true force in the heavyweight division, often beating his opponents with powerful throws and pins.

Life After Wrestling

Soslan Andiyev retired from wrestling in 1984. He had to miss the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics because the Soviet Union decided not to send its athletes. After his wrestling career, he continued to be involved in sports.

• He first worked as a coach for the national wrestling team, helping new athletes achieve their dreams.
• In 1989, he moved back to his home region of Ossetia to work as a sports official.
• From 1990 to 1998, he held an important position as the vice-president of the Russian Olympic Committee. This meant he helped guide and support Olympic sports in Russia.

Awards and Recognition

Soslan Andiyev's amazing career was recognized with many honors. In 2006, he was inducted into the FILA Wrestling Hall of Fame. This special hall honors the greatest wrestlers of all time from around the world. He passed away on November 22, 2018, leaving behind a legacy as one of wrestling's true giants.

See also

In Spanish: Soslán Andíyev para niños