Gholamreza Takhti

27 August 1930 – 7 January 1968

Gholamreza Takhti was an Iranian freestyle wrestler who won an Olympic gold medal in 1956 and two Olympic silver medals, along with a world championship title in 1959. Competing in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, he became one of the best-known sporting figures in Iran and was widely associated with the traditional code of the zurkhaneh. He died in Tehran in 1968 at the age of 37.

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Life events

Born in Tehran, Iran
27 August 1930

Born in the Khani Abad district of southern Tehran.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Began training in wrestling at a Tehran club
c. 1948

He took up the sport in his late teens and joined the Poulad club.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Won a silver medal at the Helsinki Olympics
1952

He competed in the freestyle light heavyweight division.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Won a silver medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Tokyo
1954

He took second place in the freestyle heavyweight category.

Achievement ?
Won the Olympic gold medal at the Melbourne Games
1956

He took the freestyle light heavyweight title.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Won the world freestyle title at the championships in Tehran
1959

He won gold in front of a home crowd.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Won a silver medal at the Rome Olympics
1960

It was his third and final Olympic medal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Collected aid for victims of the Buin Zahra earthquake
1962

He took part in public fundraising after the earthquake struck north-western Iran.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Married Shahla Tavakoli
1966

Their son Babak was born the following year.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Died in Tehran
7 January 1968

He was found dead in a hotel room in Tehran at the age of 37.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓