Gholamreza Takhti
Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | Freestyle, koshti pahlavāni | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | Poulad Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olympic finals | 1952 Summer Olympics: Freestyle 79kg – Silver 1956 Summer Olympics: Freestyle 87kg – Gold 1960 Summer Olympics: Freestyle 87kg – Silver 1962 World Championships: Freestyle 97kg – Silver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regional finals | 1958 Asian Games: Freestyle 87kg – Gold | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National finals | Pahlevan of Iran (3): 1336, 1337, 1338 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Gholamreza Takhti (
Early life
Takhti, the youngest child of a poor family, was born in Khaniabad neighborhood of south
Career
Takhti won his first Iranian championship in 1950,[4] the following year on his first trip abroad, he won a silver medal at the world freestyle championships in Helsinki - the first international medal ever gained by an Iranian wrestler.[1] One year later, he won another silver medal, again in Helsinki, this time in the 1952 Summer Olympic Games.[4]
The subsequent highlights of his career were the gold medals in the 1956 Summer Olympic Games, the 1959 World Championships (Tehran), and the 1961 World Championships (Yokohama). Takhti won a silver, at the 1960 Summer Olympic Games.[1] His Olympic career finished with one gold medal and two silver medals. He participated and finished fourth in the 1964 Summer Olympic Games.
Takhti started as a middleweight in the 79 kg and 87 kg categories, as he got older, he decided to move up in weight and competed at, 97 kg, for the 1964 Summer Olympic Games. He was unable to win a medal and finished in 4th place.[4]
Character and personality
Takhti tended to act fairly when competing against rivals during his career, something which originated from traditional values of
For instance, he once had a match with
Another example of his character comes from a match in
Social and political activisms
Takhti was known for his anti-regime views. He was a pro-
In 1962, an
Death and legacy
Takhti was found dead in his hotel room on January 7, 1968. The Iranian government officially proclaimed his death a suicide.[7] However, some claim that he was murdered because of his political activities against the Pahlavi regime, accusing SAVAK, the Iranian intelligence agency at that time. Because he was a national hero, his funeral drew thousands of mourners after being organized by Hossein Towfigh, Editor-in-Chief of the popular Towfigh Magazine. According to reports, at least 7 people committed suicide due to their sadness after Takhti was declared dead.[8] Towfigh issued a special edition of their popular weekly magazine on January 14, 1968, where they caricatured Takhti with angel wings flying high above the throngs of Iranian mourners at his own funeral with a caption that read "Don't cry for me, cry for yourselves."
Towfigh Magazine was shut down by the Shah for several months after printing this cartoon.
Takhti is buried at
Takhti struggled with depression particularly regarding problems with his wife.[9][10] Two days before his death Takhti created his will transferring the guardianship of his son to a colleague and instructions on what to do with his properties.[11][9]
Takhti was survived by his wife and son, Babak Takhti, an author and translator. Babak has heavily criticized the rumors that his father was killed and confirmed his father took his life.
In film
- Takhti (1997)
- Gholamreza Takhti (2019)
- The Sheik (2014) (documentary, shown in archive footage)
References
- ^ Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition, originally published July 20, 2005
- ^ ISBN 9781860646300.
- ^ a b c Sarrafi, Khashayar. "Modern Pahlevan: Jahan Pahlevan Takhti" (PDF). Shanghai University Sports Research Center, College of Physical Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
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(help) - ^ a b c d "Gholamreza TAKHTI (IRI): Biographie". Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées (FILA). Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
- ^ "اسطوره و پهلوانی برخاسته از دیار الوند، پهلوانی برای همه دوران". خبرگزاری برنا. Archived from the original on 2013-12-26. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
- ^ a b "Iranians honor wrestling legend Gholam-Reza Takhti". Tehran Times. 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ Iole, Kevin (June 23, 2013). "The cruel tragedy of The Iron Sheik". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
- ^ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2012/01/profile-gholamreza-takhti-world-champion-wrestler-iranian-patriot.html
- ^ a b c "Iran's Takhti: Legendary figure with controversial death". 23 April 2019.
- ^ "The Olympic Games and our memories of the world champion, Gholamreza Takhti". 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Why Is the US Celebrating an Iranian Socialist Wrestler?Why Is the US Celebrating an Iranian Socialist Wrestler?". 22 October 2017.
- ^ ideensadr (25 October 2002). "Takhti (1997)". IMDb.
External links
- Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Gholam Reza Takhti". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2012-06-20.
- Takhti at IMDb
- A poem by Siavash Kasrai about Takhti
- Mohtāj Rasouli, In Memory of Jahān Pahlavān Takhti, in Persian, Jadid Online, 7 January 2008, [1].
Shokā Sahrāi, an audio slideshow, Jadid Online, 7 January 2008, [2] (3 min 47 sec).
Some reminiscences of Gholamreza Takhti by his friends, in Persian, Jadid Online, 7 January 2008, [3]. - Bahār Navā'i, Takhti at British Museum (Takhti dar Muzeh-ye Britāniā), in Persian, Jadid Online, 2 March 2009, [4].
An audio slideshow, Jadid Online, 2 March 2009, [5] (3 min 57 sec).