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Richárd Weisz facts for kids

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Richárd Weisz
Richárd Weisz 1908 matchbox label 2.jpg
Weisz in 1908
Personal information
Born 30 April 1879
Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary
Died 4 December 1945 (aged 66)
Budapest, Hungary
Sport
Sport Greco-Roman wrestling
Club MTK Budapest
Coached by János Weigand
Medal record
Men's Greco-Roman wrestling
Representing  Hungary
Olympic Games
Gold 1908 London +93 kg

Richárd Weisz was a famous Hungarian wrestler. He was born on April 30, 1879, in Budapest, Hungary. He became an Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling. This type of wrestling is a sport where wrestlers use only their arms and upper bodies to hold and throw their opponents. They cannot use their legs to trip or hook. Weisz won a gold medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. He passed away on December 4, 1945.

Weisz's Early Life and Training

Richárd Weisz grew up in Budapest, Hungary. Before he became a wrestler, he trained in other sports. He practiced athletics, which includes running and jumping. He also enjoyed rowing. Later, he decided to focus on wrestling.

Becoming a Champion Wrestler

Weisz quickly became very good at wrestling. In 1899, he won a national wrestling title. This was an unofficial championship. After that, he won seven official national titles in a row. These wins happened every year from 1903 to 1909.

He was also strong in other sports. He competed in weightlifting. From 1905 to 1908, he won the national heavyweight championships in weightlifting too.

Olympic Success

Richárd Weisz competed in two major international events. First, he took part in the 1906 Intercalated Games. These games were held in Athens, Greece. They were not official Olympic Games.

Then, he went to the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. This was where he achieved his biggest success. Weisz competed in the Greco-Roman super heavyweight category. He won the gold medal, becoming an Olympic champion for Hungary.

Later Career and Life

After his Olympic win, Weisz tried professional wrestling. He had a match against a famous wrestler named Stanislaus Zbyszko. After this, he even performed in a circus.

Later, he was allowed to compete as an amateur again. This happened before the 1912 Summer Olympics. However, he decided not to compete. He felt he no longer had the strong desire to wrestle at that level. Richárd Weisz lived until 1945.

See also

  • List of select Jewish wrestlers
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