Wilfried Dietrich
Encyclopedia
Wilfried Dietrich (October 14, 1933 – June 3, 1992) was a German wrestler, Olympic Champion in freestyle wrestling
, Olympic silver medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling
, winner of a total of five Olympic medals, World Champion in freestyle wrestling, and European Champion.
He was born in Schifferstadt
and died in Durbanville, South Africa
.
, 1960
, 1964
, 1968
and 1972 Summer Olympics
, and won a total of five medals (one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals). This is more than any other Olympic wrestler in modern times.
At the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne Dietrich won a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling
, behind Anatoly Parfyonov
in the heavyweight class. He won a silver medal in freestyle wrestling
at the 1957 FILA Wrestling World Championships
in Istanbul. At the 1960 Summer Olympics
in Rome he won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling, as well as a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, again in the heavyweight class. In Yokohama in 1961
he became World Champion in freestyle wrestling. At the World Championships in Toledo in 1962
he won bronze medals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. At the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo he won a bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, in 1967 he won the European Championship (freestyle), and at the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City he won a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling. At the 1969 FILA Wrestling World Championships
in Mar del Plata he won a silver medal in Greco-Roman style. He also competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich, where he placed fourth in Greco-Roman and fifth in freestyle wrestling. It was also at the 1972 Olympics that Dietrich suplexed the 198 kg heavy American Chris Taylor, it is one of the most memorable suplexes of all times.
Freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...
, Olympic silver medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
, winner of a total of five Olympic medals, World Champion in freestyle wrestling, and European Champion.
He was born in Schifferstadt
Schifferstadt
Schifferstadt is a town in the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.It is situated approx. 12 km southwest of Ludwigshafen and 6 km northwest of Speyer.- History :...
and died in Durbanville, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Sports career
Dietrich competed at the 19561956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
, 1960
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, 1964
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, 1968
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
and 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, and won a total of five medals (one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals). This is more than any other Olympic wrestler in modern times.
At the 1956 Summer Olympics
Wrestling at the 1956 Summer Olympics
At the 1956 Summer Olympics, 16 wrestling events were contested, all for men. There were eight weight classes in Greco-Roman wrestling and eight classes in freestyle wrestling.- Greco-Roman:-Freestyle:-See also:...
in Melbourne Dietrich won a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
, behind Anatoly Parfyonov
Anatoly Parfyonov
Anatoly Parfyonov was a Soviet wrestler and Olympic Champion. Also a participant of the Second World War Anatoly was wounded during the battle of the Dnieper....
in the heavyweight class. He won a silver medal in freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...
at the 1957 FILA Wrestling World Championships
1957 FILA Wrestling World Championships
The 1957 World Freestyle Wrestling Championship were held in Istanbul, Turkey.-Medal table:-Freestyle:-See also:List of World and Olympic Champions in men's freestyle wrestlingList of World and Olympic Champions in Greco-Roman wrestling...
in Istanbul. At the 1960 Summer Olympics
Wrestling at the 1960 Summer Olympics
At the 1960 Summer Olympics, 16 wrestling events were contested, all for men. There were eight weight classes in Greco-Roman wrestling and eight classes in freestyle wrestling.- Greco-Roman:-Freestyle:-See also:...
in Rome he won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling, as well as a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, again in the heavyweight class. In Yokohama in 1961
1961 FILA Wrestling World Championships
-Medal table:-Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-See also:List of World and Olympic Champions in men's freestyle wrestlingList of World and Olympic Champions in Greco-Roman wrestlingUnited States results in men's freestyle wrestling-References:*...
he became World Champion in freestyle wrestling. At the World Championships in Toledo in 1962
1962 FILA Wrestling World Championships
The 1962 FILA Wrestling World Championships were held in Toledo, Ohio, United States.-Medal table:-Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-See also:List of World and Olympic Champions in men's freestyle wrestling...
he won bronze medals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. At the 1964 Summer Olympics
Wrestling at the 1964 Summer Olympics
At the 1964 Summer Olympics, 16 wrestling events were contested, for all men. There were eight weight classes in Greco-Roman wrestling and eight classes in freestyle wrestling.- Greco-Roman:-Freestyle:-See also:...
in Tokyo he won a bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, in 1967 he won the European Championship (freestyle), and at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Wrestling at the 1968 Summer Olympics
At the 1968 Summer Olympics, 16 wrestling events were contested, for all men. There were eight weight classes in Greco-Roman wrestling and eight classes in freestyle wrestling.- Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-Medal table:-See also:...
in Mexico City he won a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling. At the 1969 FILA Wrestling World Championships
1969 FILA Wrestling World Championships
The 1969 FILA Wrestling World Championships were held in Mar del Plata, Argentina.-Medal table:-Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-See also:List of World and Olympic Champions in men's freestyle wrestling...
in Mar del Plata he won a silver medal in Greco-Roman style. He also competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Wrestling at the 1972 Summer Olympics
At the 1972 Summer Olympics, 20 wrestling events were contested, for all men. There were 10 weight classes in Greco-Roman wrestling and 10 classes in freestyle wrestling.- Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-Medal table:-Participating nations:...
in Munich, where he placed fourth in Greco-Roman and fifth in freestyle wrestling. It was also at the 1972 Olympics that Dietrich suplexed the 198 kg heavy American Chris Taylor, it is one of the most memorable suplexes of all times.