Olympians speak out against Iran's public execution of champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi

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The execution of Iranian wrestling prima Saleh Mohammadi near nan sports world mourning connected Thursday.

Iran's regime executed nan 19-year-old man connected Thursday. Mohammadi was reportedly killed successful a nationalist hanging, according to Iranian American quality authorities activists and dissidents.

Iran International reported that Iran’s authorities hanged Mohammadi and 2 further Iranian men, Mehdi Ghasemiand Saeed Davoudi, "after being accused of sidesplitting 2 constabulary officers during nationwide protests earlier this year," nan judiciary-linked Mizan news agency reported.

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Multiple Olympians person shared their reactions to nan execution pinch Fox News Digital. 

Brandon Slay, Olympic golden badge wrestler astatine Sydney 2000

Brandon Slay

Brandon Slay of nan USA during nan Mens 76 Kg Greco-Roman Wrestling semi-final astatine nan Exhibition Halls connected time 14 of nan Sydney 2000 Olympic Games successful Sydney, Australia.   (Ross Kinnaird /Allsport)

"As personification who has traveled to Iran for wrestling doubly and welcomed Iranian athletes into our country, I’ve seen firsthand nan dignity and bosom of nan Iranian people. That’s why it’s truthful heartbreaking to witnesser a panic authorities execute a teenage wrestler," Slay told Fox News Digital. 

"My prayers are pinch Saleh Mohammadi’s family and each who are suffering. In nan look of specified oppression, I clasp to nan dream of nan Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is nan only ray that overcomes acheronian and only truth that proclaims justness and mercy will 1 time prevail."

Tyler Clary, US golden badge swimmer astatine London 2012

Tyler Clary

US swimmer Tyler Clary celebrates winning golden successful nan men's 200m backstroke last swimming arena astatine nan London 2012 Olympic Games connected August 2, 2012, successful London.   (CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP)

"As an Olympic golden medalist, I’ve spent my life astir athletes who correspond nan very champion of quality subject and freedom. What we’re seeing successful Iran—the execution of a wrestler aft what appears to beryllium a sham process—is a sadistic reminder of what that authorities stands for. This is precisely why beardown activity matters," Clary told Fox News Digital. 

"President Trump has been clear-eyed astir nan quality of this authorities and nan request to guidelines up to it, and moments for illustration this beryllium why that attack is necessary." 

Eli Bremer, US modern pentathlete astatine Beijing 2008

Eli Bremer

Eli Bremer of nan United States celebrates successful nan Men's Modern Pentathlon Fencing Epee One Touch held astatine nan Fencing Hall during Day 13 of nan Beijing 2008 Olympic Games connected August 21, 2008, successful Beijing, China.  (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

"I’m beyond disgusted by nan actions of nan Iranian authorities today. Murdering a teenaged iconic jock shows really profoundly depraved nan Iranian activity is. President Trump has and continues to do nan correct point to guarantee this authorities is destroyed. A authorities that is consenting to execution a teenaged jock is simply a authorities that would beryllium consenting to execution Americans if fixed nan chance," Bremmer told Fox News Digital.

"I will proceed to support President Trump successful taking nan activity to disarm Iran and guarantee that nan monsters moving nan state are ne'er capable to perpetrate these atrocities against their citizens, Americans, aliases our friends ever again."

Katie Uhlaender, US skeleton athlete, six-time Olympian

Katie Uhlaender poses for portrait

Katie Uhlaender of Team United States poses for a image during nan Team USA Beijing 2022 Olympic sprout successful Irvine, California, connected Sept. 12, 2021. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Team USA)

"My bosom breaks for this jock and his family. What makes this much devastating is location were clear, urgent calls for action," Uhlaender told Fox News Digital. 

"These athletes did thing wrong. They represented their athletics and their country, and alternatively of being protected, they were near exposed to a strategy that grounded to enactment erstwhile it mattered most…

"The United States is successful a unsocial position to lead connected this issue. Through athletics diplomacy and world engagement, we person nan expertise to group a higher standard—one wherever jock information is non-negotiable, wherever warnings are acted upon, and wherever governing bodies are held accountable for their failures to protect. Sport tin service arsenic a awesome of integrity and unity. Action, not silence, must specify our consequence moving forward."

STATE DEPARTMENT DEMANDS IRAN HALT EXECUTION OF 19-YEAR-OLD WRESTLING STAR

AJ Edelman, Israel bobsled and skeleton athlete, two-time Olympian

Israel's Adam Edelman takes disconnected his helmet aft a training convention for nan mens's skeleton during nan Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, astatine nan Olympic Sliding Centre connected February 14, 2018.

Israel's Adam Edelman takes disconnected his helmet aft a training convention for nan mens's skeleton during nan Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, astatine nan Olympic Sliding Centre connected February 14, 2018. (OHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images)

"He was hanged for envisioning an Iran free from nan predations of a authorities now headed by an impotent Nepo-baby whose begetter thought him truthful incompetent he couldn't tally a lemonade stand. His sacrifice is impervious that specified a origin was just," Edelman told Fox News Digital. 

Sardar Pashaei, Iran younker world champion wrestler (non-Olympian)

"This is only a glimpse of nan regime’s brutality. A authorities that kills its ain group and now publically executes a teenage athlete… For astir 50 years, immoderate politicians person tried to mean this regime. They still don’t understand it. We do. We person lived nether it. We transportation its scars," Pashaei told Fox News Digital. 

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"Iranian athletics is nary longer successful nan hands of athletes. It is controlled by nan Revolutionary Guards—the aforesaid forces that suppress women, intimidate athletes abroad, and frighten their families. Others are still astatine risk—and location is still clip to prevention them. The world must enactment now. Saleh’s only ‘crime’ was protest. He went to nan streets for freedom—for a early wherever protestation is not a crime, wherever executions do not exist, and wherever group are not held hostage by their ain government."

Fox News Digital's Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Jackson Thompson is simply a sports newsman for Fox News Digital covering captious governmental and taste issues successful sports, pinch an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited successful national authorities actions related to nan enforcement of Title IX, and successful bequest media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.

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