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Gholamreza Takhti

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Gholam Reza Takhti
Personal information
Birth nameGholamreza Takhti
NicknameJahān Pahlevān
Born(1930-08-27)August 27, 1930
Tehran, Imperial State of Persia
DiedJanuary 7, 1968(1968-01-07) (aged 37)
Tehran, Iran
Resting placeIbn Babawayh Cemetery, Rey, Iran
Years active1950–1966
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight97 kg (214 lb)
Sport
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle, koshti pahlavāni
TeamPoulad Club
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals1952 Summer Olympics:
Freestyle 79kg – Silver
1956 Summer Olympics: Freestyle 87kg – Gold
1960 Summer Olympics: Freestyle 87kg – Silver
1964 Summer Olympics: Freestyle 97kg – 4th
World finals1951 World Championships: Freestyle 79kg – Silver
1954 World Championships: Freestyle 87kg – 5th
1959 World Championships: Freestyle 87kg – Gold
1961 World Championships: Freestyle 87kg – Gold
1962 World Championships: Freestyle 97kg – Silver
Regional finals1958 Asian Games:
Freestyle 87kg – Gold
National finalsPahlevan of Iran (3):
1336, 1337, 1338
Medal record
Representing  Iran
Men's freestyle wrestling
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1956 Melbourne 87 kg
Silver medal – second place 1952 Helsinki 79 kg
Silver medal – second place 1960 Rome 87 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1959 Tehran 87 kg
Gold medal – first place 1961 Yokohama 87 kg
Silver medal – second place 1951 Helsinki 79 kg
Silver medal – second place 1962 Toledo 97 kg
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1958 Tokyo 87 kg
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 1958 Sofia 87 kg

Gholamreza Takhti (Persian: غلامرضا تختی, August 27, 1930 – January 7, 1968) was an Iranian freestyle wrestler and varzesh-e bastani (Persian traditional sport) practitioner.[1] He was a gold medalist at the 1956 Summer Olympics, 1958 Asian Games, 1959 World Championships, and 1961 World Championships, as well as a three-time Pahlevan of Iran. Popularly nicknamed Jahân Pahlevân (جهان پهلوان; "The World Champion")[2] because of his chivalrous behavior and sportsmanship (Javanmardi in Iranian culture),[3] he was the most popular athlete of Iran in the 20th century, although dozens of Iranian athletes have won more international medals than he did.[1] Takhti is still a hero to many Iranians.[4] He is listed in the UWW Hall of Fame.

Early life

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Takhti, the youngest child of a poor family, was born in Khaniabad neighborhood of south Tehran‌.[5] on August 27, 1930. At the age of 15, he entered Poulad Club in southern Tehran and began training in wrestling. He soon left Tehran to become a manual laborer in Masjed Soleiman. When he was called up for military service, his potential in wrestling was discovered and he began to train seriously after he was recruited as an Iran Railways employee in 1948.[1]

Career

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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

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Takhti tended to act fairly when competing against rivals during his career, something which originated from traditional values of Zurkhaneh, a kind of heroic behaviour that epitomizes chivalrous qualities known as Javanmardi.[3]

For instance, he once had a match with Soviet wrestler Alexander Medved who had an injured right knee. When Takhti found out that Medved was injured, he avoided touching the injured leg and tried to attack the other leg instead.[3] He lost the match, but showed that he valued honorable behavior more than reaching victory.[6]

Another example of his character comes from a match in Moscow. After defeating the then-world champion Anatoli Albul, Takhti saw the sorrow on the face of Albul's mother. Takhti went to her and said, "I'm sorry about the result, but your son is a great wrestler." She smiled and kissed him.[6]

Social and political activisms

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Takhti was known for his anti-regime views. He was a pro-Mossadegh activist and member of Second National Front and his death sparked a number of anti-Shah demonstrations.[2]

In 1962, an earthquake occurred in Bou'in-Zahra in western Iran, killing over 12,000. Takhti was deeply touched by the suffering. Already one of Iran's biggest stars, he began to walk one of the main avenues of Tehran, helping out the victims and asking for assistance. He inspired others to follow in his footsteps, and thousands gave in to alleviate the suffering.

Death and legacy

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Takhti's tomb, Ebn-e Babvieh

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."

Takhti on the cover of Towfigh Magazine telling mourners "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 Ebn-e Babooyeh cemetery in Southern part of Tehran, near Shahr-e Ray, where he is commemorated every year by his fans.

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.[9] The movie Takhti,[12] begun by Ali Hatami and finished by Behrooz Afkhami, examined some of the theories about Takhti's death.

In film

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Houchang E. Chehabi, “TAḴTI, Ḡolām-Reżā”, Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition, originally published July 20, 2005
  2. ^ a b Behrooz, Maziar (2000). Rebels With A Cause: The Failure of the Left in Iran. I.B.Tauris. p. 197. ISBN 9781860646300.
  3. ^ 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. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Iole, Kevin (June 23, 2013). "The cruel tragedy of The Iron Sheik". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  8. ^ "Profile | Gholamreza Takhti: World Champion Wrestler, Iranian Patriot". PBS.
  9. ^ a b c "Iran's Takhti: Legendary figure with controversial death". 23 April 2019.
  10. ^ "The Olympic Games and our memories of the world champion, Gholamreza Takhti". 20 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Why Is the US Celebrating an Iranian Socialist Wrestler?Why Is the US Celebrating an Iranian Socialist Wrestler?". 22 October 2017.
  12. ^ ideensadr (25 October 2002). "Takhti (1997)". IMDb.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gholamreza Takhti.
  • 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).
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