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Gholamreza Takhti
Winning Olympic wrestling gold and becoming an enduring Iranian sporting hero.
Olympic gold · World champion
- Born
- 27 August 1930
- Birthplace
- Tehran, Iran
- Died
- 7 January 1968
More people
Gholamreza Takhti
Gholamreza Takhti was an Iranian freestyle wrestler and world champion. His reputation extended beyond medals to relief work and identification with ordinary people.
Early life
South Tehran
Grew up in poverty as the youngest child of an ice-maker.
First training
Joined the Poulad Club as a teenager before working in the oil fields.
Career
- 1948
Railway work
Continued serious training while employed by the state railway.
- 1952
Olympic debut
Won silver in Helsinki.
- 1956–1961
Championship years
Won Olympic gold and two world titles.
- 1966
Later competition
Continued competing internationally into his thirties.
Achievements
Olympic gold
Won the light-heavyweight freestyle title in Melbourne.
World champion
Won in Tehran.
World champion again
Regained the title in Yokohama.
Beyond sport
Earthquake relief
Organised aid after the 1962 Bo’in Zahra earthquake.
Political life
Supported Mohammad Mosaddegh’s movement and served on the National Front’s council.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Biography and contributions ↗Photo: iichs.ir (unknown photographer). Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
