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HAMIT KAPLAN
From Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia |
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CC -
Sport Department |
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Hamit Kaplan (September
20, 1934, Hamamözü - January 5, 1976, Çorum), was a renowned
Circassian (ADYGA), World and Olympic champion sports wrestler
in the Heavyweight class. He won the gold, silver and bronze
medal in Men's Freestyle Wrestling at three consecutive
Olympic Games in 1956, 1960 and 1964. |
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Born in Hamamözü town in Amasya
Province, he began wrestling as a youngster in the traditional
Turkish sport Yağlı güreş (oil wrestling). Soon, he switched over
to sports wrestling and became juniors champion in the Heavyweight
class. Hamit Kaplan was admitted to the national team in 1954 and
was trained by the renowned wrestler Celal Atik for his skill.
Already at his age of 22, he represented Turkey at the World
Chanpionships held in Karlsruhe, Germany and ranked 3rd in the
Greco-Roman style.
Besides rhree Olympic medals, he won many more titles at
international competitions both in freestyle and Greco-Roman
category. Hamit Kaplan, weighing 100 kg at his 1.90 m height, was
a defensive wrestler, who finished much of his matches in draw.
Hamit Kaplan resigned after the 1964 Olympics. He was 175 times
international for his country.
He died on January 5, 1976 at the age of only 41 following a
traffic accident in Çorum. He was laid to rest in his hometown
Hamamözü. A sports hall with 1,000 seats in Amasya and another
small one in Hamamözü are named after him.[1]
Achievements
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1955 Mediterranean Games in Barcelona, Spain - gold (Greco-Roman
Heavyweight)
1955 World Wrestling Championships in Karlsruhe, Germany - bronze
(Greco-Roman Heavyweight)
1956 World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey - silver (Freestyle Heavyweight),
gold (Greco-Roman Heavyweight)
1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia - gold (Freestyle
Heavyweight), 4th (Greco-Roman Heavyweight)
1957 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey - gold (Freestyle
Heavyweight)
1958 World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria - bronze (Freestyle Heavyweight)
1958 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary - bronze (Greco-Roman
Heavyweight)
1959 Mediterranean Games in Beirut, Lebanon - gold (Freestyle
Heavyweight)
1959 World Championships in Tehran, Iran - silver (Freestyle
Heavyweight)
1960 Balkan Championships in Burgas, Bulgaria - silver (Freestyle
Heavyweight)
1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy - silver (Freestyle
Heavyweight)
1961 World Championships in Yokohama, Japan - silver (Freestyle
Heavyweight), silver (Greco-Roman Heavyweight)
1962 World Championships in Toledo, Ohio, USA - 4th (Freestyle
Heavyweight), 4th (Greco-Roman Heavyweight)
1963 Mediterranean Games in Naples, Italy - gold (Freestyle
Heavyweight)
1963 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria - bronze (Freestyle
Heavyweight)
1963 World Championships in Helsingborg, Denmark - bronze (Greco-Roman
Heavyweight)
1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan - bronze (Freestyle
Heavyweight), 10th (Greco-Roman Heavyweight)
1965 Balkan Championships in Yambol, Bulgaria - silver (Greco-Roman
Heavyweigt).
November 19, 1956
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED - Wrestling
The powers in freestyle, or catch-as-catch-can, wrestling are
Turkey, Sweden and Russia. At the Istanbul World Cup matches this
spring Turkey won six first places, Russia one and Japan one. The
mighty Swedes were unable to compete and the U.S. didn't send an
entry. Perhaps the outstanding wrestler of the tournament was
Shozo Sasahara, a Japanese featherweight, who must be the favorite
in the 136-pound class. The finest heavyweight in the world today
is Hamit Kaplan, a 220-pound young Turk whose last name means
tiger. Kaplan, despite his comparatively light body weight, has
defeated the formidable 41-year-old Russian, Arsen Mekokishvilli,
and the Swedish giant, Bertil Antonsson. Big Bill Kerslake, the
American heavyweight, who at 290 pounds looks like an upright bear,
is a serene, intelligent fellow and very active for his size. Best
U.S. competitor is Middleweight Dan Hodge, one of the finest
collegians of all time. |
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