Ion Cernea

Ion Cernea
Cernea at the 1960 Olympics
Personal information
Born(1933-10-21)21 October 1933
Died30 June 2025(2025-06-30) (aged 91)
Bucharest, Romania
Resting placeBellu Cemetery
Height161 cm (5 ft 3+12 in)
Sport
SportGreco-Roman wrestling
ClubDinamo Bucuresti
Medal record
Representing Romania
Olympic Games
1960 Rome 57 kg
1964 Tokyo 57 kg
World Championships
1965 Manchester 57 kg
1961 Yokohama 57 kg

Ion Cernea (21 October 1933 – 30 June 2025) was a Romanian bantamweight Greco-Roman wrestler. Between 1960 and 1965 he earned two Olympic (a Silver in 1960 in Rome and a Bronze in 1964 in Tokyo) and two world championship medals, winning the world title in 1965. He retired the same year to become a wrestling coach and international referee, and was present in this capacity at all major international wrestling competitions between 1972 and 1988.

Cernea was married to the singer Irina Loghin; they had a son and a daughter. He died on 30 June 2025, at the age of 91.