U.S. wrestler Alan Vera died earlier this week after he suffered cardiac arrest over the summer while playing soccer with friends, USA Wrestling announced.
He was 33.
“Our hearts have been broken,” USA Wrestling executive director Wealthy Bender said in an announcement. “Our sincere thoughts and prayers exit to Elena, Alina and all of Alan’s family, in addition to those that have known Alan. The wrestling community mourns the lack of an amazing champion, whose incredible life impacted so many inside USA Wrestling and all over the world.”
The wrestler went into cardiac arrest on July 29 while playing soccer with a bunch of friends in Jersey City, Recent Jersey, in line with a post by Vera’s club soccer team, Recent Jersey Wolves FC.
In a tribute on Instagram, Recent Jersey Wolves FC said Vera’s “spirit on and off the sector inspired us all” and that his “kindness will eternally echo in our hearts.”
Vera had been hospitalized because the incident, but he died on Monday around 8 p.m. “after an unexpected infection took hold over the weekend,” in line with a GoFundMe page arrange to help his family.
“While his passing brings a way of peace knowing he isn’t any longer suffering, the void left behind is immeasurable,” a part of the page read.
Vera was an completed wrestler and a member of the Greco-Roman national team, just missing out on qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
He’s survived by his wife Elena Pirozhkova, who’s a two-time Olympic wrestler, and their infant daughter Alina.
Vera was born in Cuba and competed for his or her national team, winning bronze on the 2015 Pan American Games and gold the next yr on the 2016 Pan American Championships.
He later immigrated to the US in 2016 and pursued U.S. citizenship while continuing to compete before eventually becoming eligible to compete for the American team.
Vera continued his distinguished profession under the red, white and blue, competing for the U.S. within the 2021 and 2022 world championships.
He also won silver through the 2024 Pan American Championships after taking bronze the yr prior.
He finished second on the Olympic team trials earlier this yr in State College, Pennsylvania.
