Iranian Wrestling Mourns the Loss of Two Legendary Champions
Emam-Ali Habibi and Reza Sokhteh-Saraei have recently passed away, leaving behind significant legacies in Iranian wrestling.
The world of Iranian wrestling has been struck by grief following the loss of two of its most celebrated figures: Emam-Ali Habibi, the country’s first Olympic gold medalist, and Reza Sokhteh-Saraei, one of Iran’s heavyweight greats.
Emam-Ali Habibi, known as the “Tiger of Mazandaran,” passed away at the age of 94 after a long illness. Habibi etched his name in history when he won Iran’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in wrestling at the 1956 Melbourne Games. Competing with a high fever, he defeated the Soviet champion Alimbeg Bestayev in the final. He later added three world championship titles (1959, 1961, 1962) and an Asian Games gold medal in 1958 to his legacy.
Habibi’s story was not confined to the mat: he served as a member of parliament for Babol in the 1960s and even acted in several Iranian films, including Tiger of Mazandaran. Despite his fame, his post-revolution years were marked by political struggles and periods of marginalization. Yet to generations of Iranians, he remained a symbol of perseverance and national pride.
Reza Sokhteh-Saraei, another pillar of Iranian wrestling, passed away on August 25, 2025, at the age of 76 after battling prolonged illness. Born in Golestan Province, Sokhteh-Saraei represented Iran both before and after the 1979 Revolution. He won world silver medals in 1978 (Mexico City) and 1981 (Skopje) in the heavyweight division and also claimed silver at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran.
Known for his versatility, he competed in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, even stepping aside in 1986 to allow fellow champion Alireza Soleimani to compete in freestyle, ensuring that Iran secured two golds in the same event. Sokhteh-Saraei was also a three-time flag bearer for Iran’s delegation at the Asian Games (1982, 1986, 1990) and later served as a respected coach. He remained a beloved figure in Iranian sports, remembered for his humility and dedication despite having missed several Olympic and world competitions due to boycotts and political turmoil.
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC), extends deepest condolences to the families of Emam-Ali Habibi and Reza Sokhteh-Saraei, and to the Iranian nation. Their passing marks a profound moment for Iranian wrestling, a sport that has long served as a unifying force for Iranians across generations and political divides. Habibi and Sokhteh-Saraei embodied the qualities of courage, perseverance, and dignity that continue to inspire both athletes and ordinary Iranians worldwide. Their legacy is a reminder of Iran’s rich sporting tradition and its contribution to global wrestling.