Valery Rukhledev, a Russian sports activist and six-time Deaflympics wrestling gold medalist, died on April 9, 2026, at the age of 78.
Born on January 18, 1948, in Rybinsky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai, he studied at deaf schools in Novokuznetsk and Odessa. Rukhledev won wrestling gold medals for the Soviet Union at the Deaflympics from 1969 to 1977 and represented the country in 1969, 1973 and 1977.
He served as president of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf from 2013 to 2018 and was voted one of the best deaf athletes of the 20th century.
Valery Rukhledev, 78, Russian sports activist.