Lang Ping and Raúl de Jesús Trujillo Díaz Receive the IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award

Chinese volleyball coach Lang Ping and Cuban wrestling coach Raúl de Jesús Trujillo Díaz received the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award today from IOC President Kirsty Coventry and Sergii Bubka, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission, during a ceremony held at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Both coaches have helped countless athletes reach the pinnacle of their sports, earning dozens of medals across multiple editions of the Olympic Games.

“It is truly special to be here with all of you and to celebrate our two coaches for their incredible commitment and their lifelong dedication to helping their athletes become not only the best athletes, but also the best people they can be,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said during the ceremony. “Many of us who have competed in sport know and understand that the lessons we learn in sport guide us in our daily lives, and this is where the role of coaches is fundamental,” she added.

Congratulating the two awardees, she continued:

“Thank you for your commitment to sport, to your athletes, and to their well-being for future generations, because I know that when I think of my own coach, I hope to instill in my children many of the lessons she taught me. I can say that many of your athletes will do the same with their children, their friends, and their families.”

Sergii Bubka, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission, which oversaw the coach selection process, added:

“This year we received a record 152 nominations from across the Olympic Movement, and we are pleased once again to celebrate the achievements of two extraordinary coaches. Lang Ping and Raúl de Jesús Trujillo Díaz have not only served their sports with great distinction but have also had a profound impact beyond sport within their respective communities. Both are truly deserving of this special honor.”

Raúl de Jesús Trujillo Díaz: A Lifetime in Wrestling

Cuba is one of the world’s leading nations in Greco-Roman wrestling, and Trujillo Díaz has been a central figure in its steady rise.

He lives and breathes wrestling, with more than 52 years of experience as a coach. He coached the national teams of both Cuba and Portugal across five editions of the Olympic Games.

“I am very honored to receive this extraordinary recognition. I would like to thank the IOC, all the athletes I have coached over the past 50 years, every wrestling coach, and all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the sport to which I have devoted my life. They were all my motivation and example. I also want to take this opportunity to thank United World Wrestling (UWW). And a big thank you to someone very special who has always been by my side: my family, for their tremendous support.”

Athletes under Trujillo Díaz’s guidance have won countless medals. Among them are Ismael Borrero, who claimed gold in the 59 kg category at Rio 2016; Luis Orta, champion in the 60 kg event at Tokyo 2020; and the legendary super heavyweight Mijaín López Ruíz, who at Paris 2024 became the first athlete in any sport to win five consecutive Olympic gold medals in the same event.