10 Facts About Mahmut Atalay

Mahmut Atalay was a Turkish freestyle wrestler and coach.

Mahmut Atalay competed at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics and won a gold medal in 1968, placing fourth in 1964.

Mahmut Atalay was born in 1934 in Corak, a village of Corum Province in northern Turkey.

Mahmut Atalay began wrestling in the traditional Turkish karakucak style before changing to freestyle wrestling.

Mahmut Atalay was admitted to the national team after winning the national title in 1959, and received training by the renowned wrestlers such as Yasar Dogu, Celal Atik and Nasuh Akar and Halit Balamir.

Since Turkish wrestlers are among the strongest in the world in the freestyle along with the Soviet athletes and the US, it is surprising that Mahmut Atalay was given so many chances by the Turkish wrestling federation.

Mahmut Atalay achieved remarkable victories over the world-class wrestlers Abdollah Movahed, Iran, Guliko Sagaradze and Sarbeg Beriashvili, both USSR and Enju Valchev Dimov, Bulgaria.

Mahmut Atalay became the national champion 15 times, and besides his Olympic gold won several medals at other international competitions.

Mahmut Atalay retired from competitions in 1968 and then worked as a national wrestling coach for 16 years.

Mahmut Atalay died on 4 December 2004 in Ankara following a heart attack.