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Legendary Movahed, Iranian wrestling icon, dies at 86
Widely regarded as Iran’s greatest freestyle wrestler of all time, Movahed was a central figure in the country’s wrestling glory years during the 1960s and was part of the squad when Iran claimed the team title at the 1965 World Championships in Manchester.
A winner of six world and Olympic gold medals throughout his career, Movahed was the most decorated Iranian in the history of the sport for decades – until Greco-Roman great Hamid Sourian surpassed that feat with a seventh major gold at the 2014 World Championships.
Movahed’s first appearance at the World Championships came in Sofia in 1963, where he finished sixth after losing to Türkiye’s Mahmut Atalay. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he placed fifth without suffering a single defeat.
His dominance in the lightweight class began at the 1965 World Championships, where he clinched gold in the 70kg category, finishing ahead of Atalay and Soviet wrestler Zarbeg Beriashvili. He remained the dominant force in the weight class for five years – undefeated in all international competitions – securing four more world golds, one Olympic gold medal, as well as the top prize at the Asian Games in 1966 and 1970.
At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, he won four bouts by fall and three by decision. In 1971, he finished fourth at the World Championships in Sofia, and at the 1972 Munich Olympics – which marked his final appearance on the global stage – he was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali led the tributes, praising Movahed as “an enduring symbol of the genius and prestige of dear Iran,” whose illustrious career was “filled with medals, honor, and pride for this land.”
“He was the very embodiment of a patriotic champion – a legend whose authentic Iranian identity remained steadfast and brilliant even during the years he lived away from home, with his heart always beating for the glory of Iran,” Donyamali said.
“His world and Olympic gold medals may have been surpassed in number by other sons of this land, but his elevated status as one of the pioneers of greatness and expertise will forever be etched in the history books of Iranian sport.”
Movahed is one of six Iranian wrestlers – alongside Gholamreza Takhti, Emam-Ali Habibi, Ebrahim Javadi, Mansour Mahdizadeh, and Rasoul Khadem – to have been inducted into the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame, receiving the honor in 2004.
The National Olympic Committee of Iran offered its condolences on the passing of Movahed, who “dedicated his illustrious life to elevating the name of Iran on the international sporting stage.”
Best remembered for his patriotism and devotion to his homeland, Movahed turned down an offer to coach the U.S. national wrestling team after immigrating to the United States, saying he never wanted to compete against his own country.
“To be honest, I really wanted to go and work in Iran, not in America. I didn’t want to teach what I knew to someone who would then go and defeat Iranians. That’s just the way I was,” Movahed said in a recent interview.