Named acting executive director of USA Wrestling in November 2000 and permanent director in February 2001, Rich has led one of the most successful periods in the organization’s history, both on and off the mat. He is the longest-serving Executive Director in organization history. Under his leadership the United States has won 26 Olympic medals: nine gold, five silver and 12 bronze, and 100 World Championship medals with 27 gold, 26 silver and 47 bronze.

USA Wrestling had its first women’s Olympic wrestling champion in 2016 and U.S. women’s wrestling performance improved with a gold, a silver and two bronze medals at the 2020 Olympics and a record-tying seven medals at the Women’s World Championships in 2021 and 2022. The U.S. won the overall World Championships medal count in all styles for the first time in 2022 while setting records for Most Gold Medals by a U.S. World Team, all disciplines, with seven and most men’s team world finalists with eight. USA Wrestling won its first Greco-Roman World team title in 2007 and added World freestyle titles in 2017 and 2022.

Perhaps the most important of Rich’s many successes came in 2013 when he formed the Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling, a U.S.-led group of wrestling and business leaders that spearheaded the American efforts to retain wrestling on the Olympic program. This successful effort reversed a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee to remove wrestling from the Olympics, starting with the 2020 Games.

USA Wrestling set all-time membership records in 2018-2019 with a combined membership of more than 252,500. During Rich’s tenure, USA Wrestling has enhanced its strong financial position, becoming debt-free with $10 million in investments and cash reserves. Under Bender’s leadership, the support of and opportunities for wrestlers has grown with increased pay, the athlete appearance program, Olympic and World medal performance bonuses, athlete representation and participation on committees and the board of directors, all while expanding education of coaches. USA Wrestling currently celebrates its most diverse board in the history of the organization.

For his tremendous leadership and incredible accomplishments on behalf of the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to name Rich Bender as a 2023 Distinguished Member.