Olympic 800-meter gold medalist, held world record 1980-1983 Canadian professional wrestler known as ‘The Russian Bear’

KIEV, Ukraine — Nadiya Olizarenko, gold medalist in the women’s 800 meters at the 1980MoscowOlympics, has died. Shewas 63.

The Ukrainian athletics federation said in a statement that Olizarenko died Saturday “following a long and serious illness.”

Running for the Soviet Union, Olizarenko held the world record between 1980 and 1983 and remains the second-fastest woman in history over 800 meters.

She ran her personal best in the 1980 Olympic final, finishing in 1 minute, 53.43 seconds.

As well as winning Olympic gold in Moscow, Olizarenko took bronze in the1,500 five days later.

She remained a leading middle-distance runner for several years, winning European gold in the 800 in 1986.

GREENVILLE, N.C. Ivan Koloff, the Canadian professional wrestler known as “The Russian Bear” in the ring, has died after fighting liver cancer. Hewas 74.

Koloff’s daughter, Rachel Marley, and the World Wrestling Entertainment confirmed the death.

“I’m sad to wake up and hear of the passing of my very close friend the Russian Bear Ivan Koloff,” former wrestler Ric Flair tweeted. “You will be missed My Friend. Rest in peace.”

Born in Montreal as OrealPerras, Koloffwas one of wrestling’s top villains in the 1970 and 1980s. In 1971, he pinned Bruno Sammartino inMadison Square Garden to take the World Wrestling Federation title.

Koloff later was an ordained minister in Greenville.

The death came a day after fellow former wrestler George “The Animal” Steele died at 79.