After fighting the battle for his life on hospital beds for eight weeks, Alan Vera passed away earlier today. Vera was hospitalized following a sudden cardiac arrest. Nobody expected a journey so full of dedication and wins would come to an unfortunate and sudden end like this. “He lived a clean lifestyle and ate a strict diet with no vices. How does somebody like him have a heart attack?” a fan wrote, unable to process Alan’s passing. The sentiment seems to be a common one among the wrestling community.

The reason? Vera’s commitment to his health and sports made him unmatched, yet he had a sudden decline. And that, too, was a decline that ended with his passing. At 33,  Vera’s journey was only just beginning. Alan was so close to realizing the dream he had been chasing for years. A spot at the Olympics!

Alan Vera, over the years, emerged as a fierce competitor for Team USA. Vera even made it to the finals of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. But just one match away from making history, fate took an unexpected turn. Vera lost the best-of-three final to Josef Rau, leaving him out of the Paris Olympics.

Vera, after the loss, took an unconventional route to recovery. He chose to direct his energy into another sport, soccer. Wrestling was his first love, but soccer was a passion he never gave up on. So, when he suddenly collapsed on the field, his fall blindsided the arena. He was soon admitted to the ICU. Leaving his family and wife, Elena Pirozhkova, in uncertainty, emotional turmoil, and financial crisis. However, the wrestling community stepped up to support the family.

A heartbroken fandom remembers Alan Vera

Vera’s contribution to the sport and the country is not small. He ranked No. 2 in the U.S. at 97 kg and competed for Team USA for four consecutive years. Alan Vera even has two Senior Nationals champion titles, a Dave Schultz Memorial International champion, and a 2019 Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational to his name. Before competing for Team USA, Vera was a four-time Cuban national champion and a Pan American Games bronze medalist.

Even fellow athletes have taken it to social media. Jenna Rose Burkert, a retired American freestyle wrestler, wrote, “I am heartbroken to hear about the passing of Alan Vera. This is truly a tragic loss, and my thoughts are with his entire family during this incredibly difficult time. Sending prayers and love to all who knew him. Rest in peace, Alan. You will be missed but never forgotten.”

USA Wrestling also took it X and expressed their grief, writing, “It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Greco-Roman U.S. National Team member, husband, and father Alan Vera. Alan represented Team USA and USA Wrestling with the utmost class and always brought a smile to those around him. He will be missed.” Many fans couldn’t believe that yet another young, healthy athlete had succumbed to an inexplicable cardiac arrest.

One fan shared, “So sorry to hear of Alan Vera’s passing. My heart is broken for Elena and their family. I hope they feel the love from the wrestling community at this time.” “The Greco community is shocked,” one fan posted, while “May his family be in our thoughts and prayers,” added another. Vera’s passing leaves a void in the wrestling community that is hard to fill. His legacy, however, shall be remembered by the generations to come. Rest in peace, Alan Vera.