Yakov Springer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yakov Springer
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| Born | 10 June 1921 |
| Died | 6 September 1972 (aged 51) Fürstenfeldbruck, Bavaria, West Germany
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| Resting place | Holon Cemetery, Israel |
Yakov Springer (Hebrew: יעקב שפרינגר, born June 10, 1921 – died September 6, 1972) was a sports expert. He was a wrestler and also coached and judged weightlifting. Yakov Springer is remembered as one of the people who died during the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
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Who Was Yakov Springer?
Yakov Springer was born in Poland in 1921. He grew up to be very involved in sports. He was a skilled wrestler himself. Later, he became a coach and a judge for weightlifting events.
Early Life and Bravery
During a very difficult time called the Holocaust, Yakov Springer showed great courage. The Holocaust was when many Jewish people were persecuted. Springer took part in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. This was a brave fight by Jewish people against their oppressors.
A Life in Sports
Yakov Springer dedicated much of his life to sports. He helped athletes improve their skills. He also made sure competitions were fair as a judge. His work helped many people in the world of wrestling and weightlifting.
The Munich Olympics Tragedy
In 1972, Yakov Springer was in Munich, West Germany. He was there for the 1972 Summer Olympics. He was part of the Israeli Olympic team. Sadly, a group of people took him and ten other Israelis hostage. They were asking for the release of prisoners.
German police tried to rescue the hostages. During this attempt, the people holding them hostage harmed the Israelis. Yakov Springer and the other ten Israelis died in this tragic event. This sad day is known as the Munich massacre.
