Nine days before the anniversary, three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar Saitiev passed away at the age of 50.

Three-time Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling from Dagestan, Buvaysar Saitiev, has left this world. He was regarded as one of the most decorated wrestlers in history. The athlete won the World Championship six times and claimed first place in the European Championships as many times.

The athlete passed away at the age of 50, just over a week before his birthday on March 11. Preliminary information suggests that the cause of death was cardiac arrest. The news spread rapidly online and was confirmed by the head of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov:

Photo: Buvaysar Saitiev's personal page

“Buvaysar lived a short but bright life, becoming an example for hundreds of Dagestani boys who watched his matches with admiration and dreamed of following in his athletic footsteps.”

After retiring from sports, Saitiev became a coach. In his final years, he dedicated himself to nurturing a new generation of wrestlers. Athletes who achieved global fame looked up to him.

“My brother is my support, my friend, the person through whom, by the will of the Almighty, I became who I am! You left for your Creator at the right time. I will miss you for the rest of my life,” wrote his assistant, Mahammad-Emin Kantaev, vice president of the wrestling federation.

Shortly thereafter, Adam Delimkhanov shared his farewell words. He expressed condolences to Buvaysar's family on behalf of the deputies of the State Duma and senators of the Russian Federation from Chechnya:

“Buvaysar Saitiev was a great champion who achieved remarkable results in sports through incredible effort, strict discipline, unyielding character, and determination. Despite his global fame, he remained a humble, sincere, noble person, a Muslim, and a Chechen.”

Buvaysar Saitiev's Biography

Buvaysar Saitiev was born on March 11, 1975, in Khasavyurt. He began practicing freestyle wrestling in 1982 and entered the Mindashvili School of Higher Sports Mastery ten years later. In 1994, he became a member of the Russian national team.

Photo: Buvaysar Saitiev's personal page

Saitiev won gold medals at the Olympics three times: first place in Atlanta in 1996, in Athens in 2004, and in Beijing in 2008. Buvaysar was a multiple champion of the world, Europe, and Russia. He retired in 2009 and shifted his focus to public and political activities.

In 2010, Saitiev became an advisor to the presidential envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District, Alexander Khloponin, and in 2012, he became a trusted representative of presidential candidate Vladimir Putin. Later, he headed the Chechen Wrestling Federation and served as an advisor to the leaders of Chechnya and Dagestan.

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