site.btaLegendary Wrestler Boyan Radev Dies at 83

Two-time Olympic wrestling champion, one-time world champion and one of the emblems of Bulgarian sport Boyan Radev died at the age of 83 on Thursday.

Radev was born on February 25, 1942. The Bulgarian wrestler first conquered Olympus at the Tokyo 1964 Games, winning the 97 kg classical wrestling category, and four years later, in 1968, defended his trophy in Mexico. Meanwhile, in 1966, he became world champion in Toledo, Spain.

He was among the first inducted into the World Wrestling Hall of Fame in Oklahoma, USA (September 24, 2009), and he is the recipient of the International Wrestling Federation's (FILA) highest award, the Gold Necklace (May 31, 2009).

Boyan Radev also received recognition from the International Olympic Committee, being selected to be the first recipient of the Pierre de Coubertin Medal (September 18, 2009). He was later honoured with the IOC Sports and Arts Award (December 1, 2014). He is one of Bulgaria's greatest art collectors.  

Three times Radev has been elected Athlete of Bulgaria in 1964, 1967, and 1968. He has also been given the title Merited Master of Sport of Bulgaria and awarded the highest state distinction - the Order of Stara Planina, for his outstanding contribution to the development of Bulgarian sport (February 14, 2002), the Culture Ministry’s Golden Age Award – a necklace for great achievements in the field of culture and collecting (February 25, 2014), the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius, First Class (June 18, 2010), the Youth and Sports Ministry’s honorary Golden Wreath award (January 31, 2016), and others.

Honorary Citizen of Sofia (2004).

Boyan Radev has been named the National History Museum’s number one donor. A hall at the museum has been named after him. It displays nearly 170 exhibits from his collection—icons, church utensils, wood carvings, stone sculptures, etc.