Takedown Report

USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender Receives 2025 George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award

Dec 17, 2025, 2:21 PM EST
by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Rich Bender receives 2025 George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award, pictured alongside Susanne Lyons, Haley Steinbrenner Swindal and William J. Hybl.
USA Wrestling is proud to recognize Rich Bender, its Executive Director of nearly 25 years, as the recipient of the prestigious George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award, which is presented by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Endowment as one-of-four annual awards given out by the organization.
The George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award honors individuals who have made sustained and meaningful contributions to sports within the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Recipients of this award demonstrate exceptional communication and leadership skills that personify excellence, advancing sport at both the national and international levels.
Bender is the longest-serving executive director in USA Wrestling history, taking over the position in 2001. Under his leadership, USA Wrestling has earned 33 Olympic medals and well over 100 World Championship medals, and reached historic milestones, including the first U.S. women’s Olympic wrestling champion. He also oversaw record membership growth, strengthened financial stability, and advanced international governance and rule development.
Joining Bender as USOPE awards recipients for 2025 were … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/december/17/usa-wrestling-executive-director-rich-bender-receives-2025-george-m-steinbrenner-iii-sport-leadership-award

December 20, 2025 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized