Mark Slavin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Slavin
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| מרק סלבין | |
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| Pronunciation | /mɑɹk; ˈslɑː.vən/ |
| Born |
Марк Яковлевич Славин
31 January 1954 Minsk, Belarus SSR
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| Died | 6 September 1972 (aged 18) |
| Burial place | Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv |
| Nationality |  Israel |
| Citizenship | Israel, USSR |
| Education | Shefayim Ulpam, Institute of Physical Education |
| Occupation | Greco-Roman Wrestler |
| Years active | 1971–1972 |
| Known for | Being hostage in the Munich Massacre |
| Parent(s) |
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Mark Slavin (Hebrew: מרק סלבין, Russian: Марк Славин; 31 January 1954 – 6 September 1972) was an Israeli Olympic wrestler. He was part of the Israeli team at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Sadly, he was one of the people who died during the Munich massacre.
Mark was only 18 years old, making him the youngest victim. He and eight other Israeli athletes were taken hostage. He died during a rescue attempt.
Early Life and Wrestling
Mark Slavin was born in Minsk, which was then part of the Belarus SSR. When he was young, he started wrestling. He did this to protect himself from unfair attacks because he was Jewish.
Mark quickly became known as a very talented wrestler. In 1971, he won the Soviet junior championship in Greco-Roman wrestling. He competed in the middleweight category.
Moving to Israel and the Olympics
Just four months before the 1972 Olympic Games, Mark moved to Israel. He joined a sports club called Hapoel Tel Aviv. He also became a member of the Israeli Olympic Team.
The 1972 Olympics were going to be his first international competition for Israel. Many people thought Mark Slavin was Israel's best chance to win a medal at the Munich games.
The Munich Massacre
During the Olympics, Mark was staying in the Olympic Village. His room was in Unit 3 at 31 Connollystraße. He shared the room with other wrestlers, Gad Tsobari and Eliezer Halfin. Weightlifters David Berger, Yossef Romano, and Ze'ev Friedman were also staying nearby.
Mark was supposed to have his first Olympic match on September 5, 1972. However, early that morning, armed Palestinian terrorists broke into the Olympic Village. They captured Mark and other athletes while they were still asleep. This tragic event is known as the Munich massacre.
