Six years have passed since the tragic death of Besik Kudukhov, the four-time world champion and double medal winner at the Olympic Games in a car crash. Remembering him the Russian wrestling team paid tribute to him by wearing T-Shirt with Kudukhov’s picture and a message “Smile of the Champion”. This actually is the name of documentary on the late Kudukhov’s life and the champion team of Russia appealed to the fans to watch the documentary. The documentary tells about the life of an outstanding athlete who died tragically on December 29, 2013. The documentary depicts Kudukhov’s entire life journey in sport, the brightest moments of his career and other aspects of his life. The telecast of the documentary was attended by the entire Russian team including Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Rashidov and others in the national team, the entire coaching staff and the family members of the late wrestler.

Kudukhov took up wrestling in 1995 and was selected for the Russian national team in 2005. He was an Olympic finalist in 2012 and was considered one of the most dominant wrestlers in modern wrestling history. He was a world champion four times across two weight classes winning every world championship he competed in from 2007 to 2011. He was a finalist in the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China at the age of 20. He was also a European Champion in 2007.

Kudukhov died on 29 December 2013 in a car crash on a federal highway in southern Russia after he lost control of his car and collided with an oncoming truck.

“Besik Kudukhov will remain forever in our hearts.” said one of the Russian wrestler after the screening. Indeed he will be.