Valentin Jordanov, Olympic Gold Medalist 1996, President of Bulgarian Wrestling Federation

To the attention of
The International Olympic Committee
The International federation of associated styles
The National Olympic Committees
The National Wrestling Federations, FILA members

Dear President Rogge,

As a sign of protest I am returning my gold medal, won at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, to the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne. With this act I express my solidarity with the millions of athletes and fans of our sport who are condemning the recommendation of the IOC Executive Committee to remove wrestling from the program for the 2020 Olympics.

Our sport is an integral part of the Olympic movement and one of the founders of both the ancient and modern Olympics.  I am also sending you the book “Bulgarian Glory,” in which iscollected the golden history of our small but mighty nation. In it are the dreams, love, achievement and pride of thousands of champions and eminent individuals. All of them are part of those 180 national federations that bring together wrestlers from different backgrounds, religions, skin colour, gender, weight.

However, I have to give you a credit – by ignoring wrestling you
have achieved what no politician has. You unreservedly united Russia, the U.S. and Iran for a single cause – saving the sport of wrestling, without which the Olympics will never be the same.

Valentin Jordanov
Olympic Gold Medalist 1996
Olympic Bronze Medalist 1992
Seven Time World Champion
Seven Time European Champion
Vice president of The Bulgarian Olympic Committee
President of Bulgarian Wrestling Federation