Weisz, Richard

Sport:
wrestling

Country Represented:
Hungary

Years Competed:
1908

Medals Received:
gold

Olympic Info:
A enormous man who weighed 209 pounds and possessed a 20-inch neck and a 50-inch chest, Weisz competed as a heavyweight in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1908 London Olympics. In his first match, he almost pinned his Danish opponent in the first minute and eventually won the match in a little over 13 minutes. After defeating another Dane in the second round, Weisz became Hungary's first Olympic wrestling champion by defeating Aleksandr Petrov of Russia in the gold medal match.

Career Highlights:
Weisz, who began wrestling at the age of 20, was also a marvelous weightlifter. Besides his Olympic medal in wrestling, Richard was the Hungarian National heavyweight wrestling champion, Austria's first national weightlifting champion, and was also Hungary's National heavyweight weightlifting champion from 1903-1909. He is a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. 1879 - d. 1945

Origin:
Hungary

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