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1988 Greco-Roman Olympian Duane Koslowski, 65, has passed away

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by Koslowski family

Action image: Duane Koslowski hits a gut wrench at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Pensacola, Fla. Portrait is Duane Koslowski at the 1988 Olympic Training Camp in Big Bear, Calif. (Photo by Steve Brown)

With great sorrow, we announce the passing of Duane Koslowski, of Palmyra, Virginia on February 2nd, 2024 at 65 years old.

Duane was a three-time national Greco Roman champion at the 130 kg weight class from 1986 to 1988. He placed fourth in the 1986 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, although he was undersized at 255 pounds. He was also fifth at the 1987 World Championships at Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Duane won the 1987 Pan American games in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duane represented the USA in the 130 kg weight class at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, where he placed eighth after injuring his shoulder against the eventual gold medalist Alexander Karelin of Soviet Union during the fourth round match and was unable to continue.

Duane and his twin brother Dennis were proud to represent their home town of Doland, South Dakota. Duane and Dennis shared the stage with Bill and Jim Scherr, twin brothers also from South Dakota, Mobridge, on the Regis Philbin show prior to the Seoul, Olympics.

Duane was a three-time South Dakota state high school qualifier. He placed second at 155 lbs. in 1976 and won the State championships in 1977 at 185 lbs. with a 32-0 record.

He and his brother Dennis attended the University of Minnesota, Morris where they wrestled and played football. In football Duane played offensive guard and was two-time all-conference and one-time Div. III All-American. In wrestling, Duane suffered various injuries and was unable to complete a full season until his senior year where he won the Div. III national title in the Heavyweight division in 1981.

Duane was married after finishing college and discontinued wrestling for 4 years. Due to the success of his twin brother Dennis, who began wrestling the Greco-Roman style of wrestling following college and had earned a spots on the 1983 United States Pan American and World Team as well as an alternate on the 1984 Olympic team, Duane decided to wrestle again. After one year of training and competing, he won his first of three consecutive Greco Roman national titles.

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