Hirschl, Mickey

Nikolaus Hirschl

Sport:
wrestling

Country Represented:
Austria

Years Competed:
1932

Medals Received:
bronze

Olympic Info:
At the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, Hirschl competed for Austria and won two medals in two different wrestling events. A heavyweight, he competed in the freestyle discipline first and won the bronze medal, despite losing both his matches (only three participants competed). Hirschl then competed as a heavyweight in the Greco-Roman discipline. A favorite to win the gold medal, he received a bye (he drew no opponent) in the first round and pinned his Italian opponent in the second round, but was injured during the match. He continued to compete and won the bronze medal. Four years later, Hirschl boycotted the 1936 Berlin Olympics to protest the Nazis' treatment of Jews.

Career Highlights:
An incredible athlete, Hirschl was Austria's Junior champion in the shot put and discus at the age of 15. At 16, he won the junior championship in heavyweight weighlifting, and was Austria's heavyweight wrestling champion at the age of 18, holding the title for the next ten years! A member of the Hakoah-Vienna Athletic Club, Hirschl won 127 international competitions between 1927-1934 (including the European heavyweight title in 1929 and 1934), and was also the Austrian pentathalon champion for seven years. He is a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. March 20, 1906 - d. Oct. 10,1991

Origin:
Austria

< Previous |  Next >