Charles Villet has achieved an unprecedented feat by being selected as an Olympic referee for the third consecutive time.
This year marks 51 years in the wrestling world, with a successful career spanning from wrestler to referee. In 2016, he became the first African referee to attend the Olympics and was named the world’s best referee in 2019.
“When I first went to the Olympics, it was a dream come true for me because there was no one else who went before me, and I think the biggest achievement for me was when I received my golden whistle and was announced as the world’s best referee, and this for me marked my years of dedication, hard work, and my overall passion for the sport.
“Being selected three times in a row means a lot to me, and I was chosen out of 100-something wrestlers across the globe. This year is extra special for me because I will be flying for the first time with one of our South African wrestlers who has qualified,” he said.
Charles travels out of the country almost every month for UWW to teach and spread the word to amateur wrestlers, and he believes it’s something he needs to do to give back to his community.
He’s currently an educator and offers free educational courses for wrestlers, and he would like to encourage fellow wrestlers to believe in themselves and always give it their all.
