South Korean Wrestler Jang Chang-sun Dies at Age 83

Jang Chang-sun died Monday at age 83, yna.co.kr reported. He became the first South Korean in any sport to capture a world title when he won the men's 52-kilogram freestyle gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Toledo, Ohio, in 1966. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee announced the passing on July 20, 2026, and said it will hold an official funeral for the athlete this week.

He had earlier taken silver medals at the 1962 Asian Games and the 1964 Summer Olympics. After retirement, Jang served as executive director and later vice president of the Korea Wrestling Federation. He headed the National Training Center in Taeneung, northern Seoul, from 2000 to 2003 and sat on the executive board of the organizing committee for the 2014 Asian Games held in his hometown of Incheon.

The committee inducted Jang into its Sports Hall of Fame as a Sports Hero in 2014. He received two Presidential Commendations and other national sports honors. "Jang Chang-sun wrote new history for Korean sports as our first-ever world champion," KSOC President Ryu Seung-min said.