Seven wrestling legends inducted into FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame

COSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland -- The Federation International de Luttes Associees (FILA), the international Olympic governing body for the sport of wrestling, will induct seven individuals who have achieved extraordinary success as a wrestler or referee into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame.

"On behalf of the FILA Hall of Fame Commission, I am proud to announce the seven candidates who were selected to be inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame," said Stan Dziedzic, President of the FILA Hall of Fame Commission. "This class of inductees represents an amazing 19 individual World titles and four Olympic gold medals along with a referee who has officiated in the past five Olympic Games and 36 World Championships."

The inaugural class of the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame members was inducted in 2003. Since then, 49 members have been inducted.

This year's class of honorees includes women freestyle wrestlers Xiue Zhong of China and Dong Feng Liu of China and men's freestyle wrestlers Leroy Kemp of the United States and Hideaki Tomiyama of Japan.

Greco-Roman honorees include Michail Mamiashvili of Russia and Boyan Radev of Bulgaria.

The 2008 Referee to be honored is Mehdi Khaledi of Iran.

Olympic champions in this class of honorees include Radev (twice), Tomiyama and Mamiashvili. All of the wrestlers won multiple World titles, with Zhong and Liu winning five World titles, Kemp and Mamiashvili winning three World titles, Tomiyama winning two World titles and Radev winning one World title.

The FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2008 will be inducted at ceremonies hosted by FILA on August 21, during the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

"I want to commend the FILA Hall of Fame Commission, FILA Bureau, and the Chinese Wrestling Federation for working together to honor these individuals in a special way during the 2008 Olympic Games," said FILA President Raphael Martinetti.

Each new member will be permanently recognized at the International Wrestling Hall of Fame at FILA Headquarters in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland and at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.

Following are a list of the 2008 FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductees and their accomplishments:

Men's Freestyle

LEROY KEMP, United States
- 3X World Gold (1978, '79, '82)
- 1981 World Bronze

HIDEAKI TOMIYAMA, Japan
- 1984 Olympic Gold
- 2X World Gold (1978, '79)
- 2X World Silver (1982, '83)
- 1981 World Bronze

Women's Freestyle

XIUE ZHONG, China
- 5X World Gold (1991,'92, '93, '96, '97)
- 2X World Silver (1995, '99)

DONG FENG LIU, China
- 5X World Gold (1991, '92. '93, '95. '96)
- 1997 World Bronze

Greco-Roman

MICHAIL MAMIASHVILI, Russia
- 1988 Olympic Gold
- 3X World Gold (1983, '85, '86)
- 2X World Silver (1989, '90)

BOYAN RADEV, Bulgaria
- 2X Olympic Gold (1964, '68)
- 1966 World Gold
- 2X World Silver (1962, '67)

Official/Referee

MEHDI KHALEDI, Iran
- 5X Olympic Games (1988, '92, '96, '00, '04)
- 36X World Championships
- 5X Asian Games (1990, '94, '98, '02, '06)