MOSCOW - Russia's multiple world and Olympic champions Alexander Karelin and Buvaisar Saitiyev have been voted the best wrestlers in the history of the sport by the International Wrestling Federation (FILA).

Karelin, who won nine world heavyweight titles in Greco-Roman style in the 1980s and 1990s, retired after failing to win a record fourth Olympic gold at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Saitiyev will be gunning for his third Olympic freestyle gold medal next year in Beijing after winning in Atlanta in 1996 and in Athens in 2004. The Chechen wrestler has also won six world titles.

The two Russians received their awards from FILA president Raphael Martinetti at the federation's annual gala in Moscow at the weekend.