9 Most Popular Ecuador Wrestling Players of All Time

Liam Rooney

Welcome to the world of professional wrestling in Ecuador! For more than a century, Ecuador has been home to some of the best and most renowned wrestlers in the world.

From legendary stars like El Santo to rising stars such as Johnny Idol, the country has produced some of the most impressive wrestlers of all time.

We’ll take a look at some of the most decorated and well-respected wrestlers from Ecuador, and discuss why they are considered to be among the best in the world. So without further ado, let’s dive in and get to know some of Ecuador’s greatest wrestlers!.

1. Marco Terán

Marco Terán is a prominent figure in Ecuadorian wrestling. He is known for his participation in two Olympic Games, the 1968 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics.

His achievements and his dedication to the sport have earned him great respect and admiration within the Ecuadorian wrestling community. Terán first participated in the 1968 Summer Olympics, held in Mexico City.

He competed in the Freestyle Lightweight division and went on to secure a fourth-place finish.

This result was a major accomplishment for Ecuadorian wrestling as it was the first time an Ecuadorian wrestler had reached the finals of an Olympic Games. Terán then went on to compete in the 1976 Summer Olympics, held in Montreal.

He again competed in the Freestyle Lightweight division but was unable to repeat his success from the 1968 Olympics.

Nevertheless, his performance was still impressive, as he managed to secure a sixth-place finish. Throughout his career, Marco Terán has been a source of pride for the Ecuadorian wrestling community.

His participation in two Olympic Games, and his success in the 1968 Olympics, has earned him a place in the hearts of many Ecuadorian wrestling fans. His legacy as a great wrestler will continue to live on for many years to come.

2. César Solari

César Solari is a professional wrestler from Ecuador. He is best known for his participation in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Solari was part of the men’s freestyle 52 kg division and competed against wrestlers from all around the world.

He was the first wrestler from Ecuador to compete in the Olympic games. Solari was born in Quito, Ecuador in 1945. He began wrestling at a young age and soon developed a passion for the sport. As a teenager, Solari trained hard and won several regional tournaments.

His hard work paid off when he was selected to represent Ecuador at the 1968 Summer Olympics. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Solari competed against some of the best wrestlers in the world. He held his own and was one of the few wrestlers to make it to the semi-finals.

Unfortunately, he did not win a medal at the Olympics, but he received recognition for his efforts. Since then, César Solari has had a successful career in wrestling. He has won several national and international titles and is considered one of the best wrestlers from Ecuador.

He is now retired, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of wrestling fans and athletes alike.

3. Iván Garcés

Iván Garcés is a former Ecuadorian wrestler who made history by participating in the 1984 Summer Olympics. He was the first Ecuadorian wrestler to ever participate in the Olympics and was an inspiration to his country.

Garcés was born in Ecuador and started wrestling at a young age. He was successful in local tournaments and eventually earned a spot on the Ecuadorian Olympic team. He trained hard and eventually qualified for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

Garcés competed in the lightweight freestyle category and although he didn’t win any medals, he was the first Ecuadorian wrestler to compete in the Olympics and his participation was a great source of pride for his country.

Garcés’s performance at the 1984 Olympic Games opened the door for other Ecuadorian athletes to compete in future Olympics. He is a national hero in Ecuador and his story is an inspiration to many aspiring athletes.

4. Hugo Savinovich

Hugo Savinovich is a name that is widely known in the sports world. He is an Ecuadorian sports commentator and a retired professional wrestler and wrestling manager.

He has gained a lot of recognition for his work in the professional wrestling promotion WWE from 1994 to 2011, where he was part of the Spanish language commentary team. Currently, he is signed to Lucha Libre AAA as a Spanish commentator.

Savinovich began his career in the wrestling world in the early 1980s when he started wrestling and managing in the Caribbean. He then moved to the United States, where he worked with the Universal Wrestling Federation.

After that, he moved to the WWE and quickly became one of the most popular Spanish commentators. He was highly praised for his ability to make the matches come alive and his enthusiasm for the sport.

Throughout his career, Savinovich has been involved in many memorable matches and moments. He has been involved in over 100 pay-per-view events and has been a part of some of the most high-profile matches in history.

He also served as a trainer for many wrestlers, including the likes of Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, and The Rock. In addition to his work as a commentator, Savinovich has also had a successful career as a professional wrestler.

He has held numerous championships, including the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship and the WWC World Tag Team Championship. He has also competed in some of the most prestigious wrestling tournaments, including the WWC Aniversario and the Royal Rumble.

Hugo Savinovich is a name that is well-known and respected in the sports world. He has had a successful career as both a commentator and a professional wrestler, and he continues to be involved with Lucha Libre AAA as a Spanish commentator.

5. Andres Montano Arroyo

Andrés Montaño is an Ecuadorian Greco-Roman wrestler who competed in the men’s Greco-Roman 59 kg event at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, he was eliminated in the round of 16 by Wang Lumin. After this defeat, Montaño did not give up.

He continued to train and hone his skills, and eventually his hard work paid off. In 2022, Montaño won the gold medal in his event at the Bolivarian Games held in Valledupar, Colombia.

This victory was a major accomplishment for Montaño, and it further proved his dedication to the sport of wrestling. He is an inspiration to other athletes who face defeat but remain determined to pursue their dreams.

6. Luisa Valverde

Luisa Elizabeth Valverde Melendres is an accomplished Ecuadorian freestyle wrestler. She has achieved many successes in her career, including two gold medals at the South American Games and medals at the Pan American Wrestling Championships.

She has also represented Ecuador at the Pan American Games on three different occasions, in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Luisa’s impressive accomplishments have earned her recognition both in her home country of Ecuador and around the world.

She is a prominent figure in the world of freestyle wrestling and is well respected for her accomplishments. Her two gold medals at the South American Games have cemented her place as one of the top wrestlers in South America.

In addition, her medals at the Pan American Wrestling Championships demonstrate her skill in the global arena. Luisa’s impressive resume of accomplishments also includes her representation of Ecuador at the Pan-American Games.

She represented her country at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Pan American Games, proudly showcasing her skill and dedication to the sport.

Her commitment to the sport and her country is inspiring and has earned her the respect of her peers. Luisa Elizabeth Valverde Melendres is an outstanding athlete who has achieved many successes in her career.

Her two gold medals at the South American Games, medals at the Pan American Wrestling Championships and her representation of Ecuador at the Pan American Games are a testament to her skill and commitment to the sport.

Her accomplishments have earned her the respect and admiration of her peers, and she is an inspiration to aspiring athletes everywhere.

7. Lucía Yépez

Lucía Yamileth Yépez Guzman is an accomplished Ecuadorian freestyle wrestler who has achieved great success in her sport. In 2021, she won the gold medal in the 53 kg event at the U23 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.

This was a remarkable achievement, as the event featured some of the best wrestlers in the world. Yépez was also one of the wrestlers who represented Ecuador at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Although she was unable to win a medal in this event, she still performed admirably and was able to gain valuable experience competing with the best wrestlers in the world.

Her dedication to her sport and her hard work has paid off, and she has become one of the most successful female wrestlers in Ecuador.

8. Lissette Antes

Lissette Alexandra Antes Castillo is an Ecuadorian freestyle wrestler who has had much success in the sport. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she competed in the freestyle 55 kg event. She had a remarkable performance, beating Olga Butkevych in the 1/8 finals.

However, she eventually lost in the quarterfinals against Jackeline Rentería. Castillo has been a dominant force in the freestyle wrestling scene for many years. She has won multiple medals at the Pan American Championships and South American Championships.

She also won a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships, demonstrating her skill and dominance in the sport. Castillo has been very successful in her career and has been an inspiration to many aspiring wrestlers.

9. Vicente Orlando Huacon Alvarado

Vicente Orlando Huacón Alvarado is an amateur Greco-Roman wrestler from Ecuador. He is an accomplished wrestler, having won the gold medal in the 66 kg category at the Pan American Qualification Tournament in Kissimmee, Florida, United States.

This earned him the opportunity to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Greco-Roman wrestling is an ancient style of wrestling that dates back to the original Olympic Games in 776 BC.

It involves two opponents competing on their feet, and the aim of the game is to throw the opponent on their back. In Amateur Wrestling, Greco-Roman is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games, the other being Freestyle.

Vicente Orlando Huacón Alvarado is a testament to the skill and dedication required to excel in Greco-Roman wrestling. His success in the Pan American Qualification Tournament earned him the chance to represent Ecuador on the world stage.

Unfortunately, he did not medal in the 2012 Olympics, but his accomplishment of qualifying for the event is remarkable and is a testament to his skill and determination.

Conclusion

The best wrestling players in Ecuador are among the best in the world. They have achieved great success at the international level, including multiple Olympic and World Championship medals.

They demonstrate a commitment to excellence and a will to win that sets them apart from the competition. With such a great group of athletes, it is no wonder that Ecuador is becoming a powerhouse in the world of wrestling.

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Liam Rooney

Recent Florida International University graduate with a passion for journalism and a focus on sports, especially in wrestling. Recognized with a 3rd place award in the Society of Professional Journalist's Green Eyeshade awards for outstanding coverage of FIU men's soccer. Experienced in local news, breaking stories, and community reporting from an internship at the Palm Beach Post. Hosted and produced a radio show, adept at creating video packages. Eager to embrace diverse journalistic opportunities beyond sports, bringing a versatile skill set and a relentless drive for excellence to the field.