Ahmet Kireççi

Ahmet Kireççi (aka Ahmet Mersinli, October 27, 1914 in Mersin – August 17, 1979 in Mersin), was a Turkish sports wrestler, who won the Olympic medal twice, the bronze medal in the Middleweight class of Men's Freestyle Wrestling at the 1936 Olympics and the gold medal in the Heavyweight class of Men's Greco-Roman category at the 1948 Olympics.

Born in the southern city of Mersin, he began first boxing and then continued in athletics. He switched over to wrestling and took part in a yağlı güreş (oil wrestling) competition in Tarsus, where he became champion.

Ahmet Kireççi was sent to İstanbul to join the Wrestling Club of Kumkapı. In 1931, he was admitted to the national team, of which he was a member 17 years long. With 18 years of age, he became Balkan champion, a title he repeated twice more. With his bronze medal gathered at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he became the first Turkish wrestler to win an Olympic medal in the Freestyle and to win an Olympic medal in the both wrestling styles.

Following President İsmet İnönü's suggestion at a reception after his return, Ahmet Kireççi accepted to change his family name officially to Mersinli, which was his nickname.

He died on August 17, 1979 following a traffic accident in his hometown. [ [http://www.forumuz.biz/tarihte_bugun_merak_edenler_buraya-97718t25.html Forum] tr icon] A statue of him erected in a corner near the harbour of Mersin commemorates the successful and popular wrestler. [ [http://www.turkishclass.com/picture_1828 Turkish Class] ]

Achievements

* 1932 Balkan Championships - gold
* 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany - bronz (Freestyle Middleweight)
* 1937 World Championships - bronze
* 1940 Balkan Championships - gold
* 1948 Olympics in London, England - gold (Greco-Roman Heavyweight)

External links

* [http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=KIRE%C7AHM01 Olympics Database]
* [http://www.sabah.com.tr/olimpiyat/tas101-20040813-10000.html Newspaper "Sabah" August 13, 2004] tr icon
* [http://www.yumuktepe.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=286 Yumuktepe] tr icon

References