Athletes Deaths Thread

[heywoodu 15,141]

How many wrestlers won a medal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman? (even more so, how many did that at the same Olympics?)

[Dragon 1,844]

5 hours ago, heywoodu said:

How many wrestlers won a medal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman? (even more so, how many did that at the same Olympics?)

https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/friv/lists.cgi?id=24

[Dragon 1,844]

 (USSR)  Yuriy Kutsenko - Athletics - decathlon

"Master of sports of international class, silver medalist of the XXII Olympic Games, honorable citizen of the city of Belgorod, Yury Mikhailovich Kutsenko, died on May 22 at night"

 

Left side of photo

[Dragon 1,844]

 László Tábori - Athletics - 1956

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Laszlo Tabori, who in 1955 became the third man to break the four-minute barrier in the mile and later coached distance runners at the University of Southern California, died Wednesday. He was 86.

The school said the Hungarian-born Tabori died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. No cause was given.

Tabori joined Roger Bannister and John Landy as the only men to break the four-minute barrier. He did so with a time of 3 minutes, 59 seconds, on May 28, 1955. That same year, Tabori held the 1,500-meter world record with a time of 3:40.8. He was also a member of the world record-setting team in the 4-x-1,500 relay.

Tabori finished fourth in the 1,500 and sixth in the 5,000 at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

 

After the games, he and his coach Mihaly Igloi defected to the U.S. and eventually settled in Los Angeles. Tabori stayed in shape for many years and would have been a medal contender at the 1960 Rome Olympics, but he could no longer run for Hungary and wasn't yet a U.S. citizen. He retired from running two years later.

[hckošice 14,833]

On 5/24/2018 at 15:41, Dragon said:

 László Tábori - Athletics - 1956

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Laszlo Tabori, who in 1955 became the third man to break the four-minute barrier in the mile and later coached distance runners at the University of Southern California, died Wednesday. He was 86.

The school said the Hungarian-born Tabori died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. No cause was given.

Tabori joined Roger Bannister and John Landy as the only men to break the four-minute barrier. He did so with a time of 3 minutes, 59 seconds, on May 28, 1955. That same year, Tabori held the 1,500-meter world record with a time of 3:40.8. He was also a member of the world record-setting team in the 4-x-1,500 relay.

Tabori finished fourth in the 1,500 and sixth in the 5,000 at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

 

After the games, he and his coach Mihaly Igloi defected to the U.S. and eventually settled in Los Angeles. Tabori stayed in shape for many years and would have been a medal contender at the 1960 Rome Olympics, but he could no longer run for Hungary and wasn't yet a U.S. citizen. He retired from running two years later.

 

Košice native  

RIP

[DaniSRB 899]

Stevan Horvat, wrestling (Olympic silver medalist)

[Dragon 1,844]

 

[intoronto 5,641]

Robert Santavy 

[Dragon 1,844]

On 6/16/2018 at 23:51, intoronto said:

Robert Santavy 

https://smithfuneralhome.ca/memorial/Robert-Santavy-0

[Dragon 1,844]

Walter Bahr (USA-Football-1948)

 

When Walter Bahr walked off the field in Brazil after the famous United States victory over England at the 1950 World Cup, he didn't expect to become a soccer celebrity.

Known for many years as the father of two NFL placekickers, Bahr regained prominence in his own right when the Americans returned to soccer's showcase in 1990 after a 40-year-absence.

The last living player from that 1950 team, Bahr died Monday in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, at age 91, according to granddaughter Lindsey D. Bahr, a film writer for The Associated Press. His death was caused by complications that resulted from a broken hip.

"I say the older I get, the more famous I become," Bahr told the AP in 2010. "I wasn't for famous for 50 years."

A team of soccer unknowns, the U.S. won 1-0 over an England side that included Alf Ramsey and Tom Finney, who earned knighthoods.

"Walter Bahr was one of the greatest people to ever be part of soccer in the United States," former U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said. "Not only was he a pioneer and a fantastic ambassador for our game over many years, he was a true gentleman."

Bahr was portrayed by Wes Bentley in the 2005 movie "The Game of Their Lives."

"A true legend in soccer in the United States," USSF President Carlos Cordeiro said. "His contribution to one of the most iconic moments in U.S. soccer history was only part of a lifetime of selfless contributions to the game. As a coach, a mentor, a friend, and a colleague, Walter touched the lives of so many people in our sport, ensuring a legacy that will last for generations."

Quick with a story, a laugh and a smile, Bahr started all three U.S. matches at the 1950 World Cup. A defender who scored one goal in 19 international appearances, made his international debut in a World Cup qualifier against Cuba in 1949, joining a national team that had lost its seven previous international matches by a combined 45-2. The Americans tied Cuba 1-1 in his debut, lost to Mexico, then beat Cuba as Bahr scored and earned a trip to the 1950 tournament in Brazil.

The U.S. wasted a late lead to Spain in its opener and lost 3-1. England was coming off a win over Chile.

"We knew we weren't in the same class as the English team," Bahr said. "But anybody worth their salt when they go out onto the field, they always think there's some possibility that something can happen, that they could steal a victory."

In the match at Belo Horizonte on June 29, 1950, Bahr collected a throw-in from Ed McIlvenny and took a shot from about 25 yards that Joe Gaetjens deflected past goalkeeper Bert Williams with a diving header late in the first half. Frank Borghi had some spectacular saves that made the lead stand up.

"As much as we were very thrilled and pleased to win the game, most of us felt the same way: 'How's that English club going to go back home and face their fans?'" Bahr said. "It was a lot easier for us to explain the victory than for them to go back and explain that defeat."

Born on April 1, 1927, Bahr was a graduate of Temple University and part of the 1948 U.S. Olympic team. He won American Soccer League titles with the Philadelphia Nationals in 1950, '51, '53 and '55 and with Uhrik Truckers in '56.

Bahr coached the Philadelphia Spartans from 1958-63 and the Philadelphia Ukrainians from 1964-69, then became Temple's coach from 1970-73. He coached Penn State to 12 NCAA tournament appearances from 1974-88, leading the Nittany Lions to the semifinals in 1979, when he was United Soccer Coaches College Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame with the entire 1950 team in 1976.

He is survived by his wife 71 years, the former Davies Uhler; daughter Davies Ann Desiderio, and sons Matt, Chris, and Casey. All three sons played in the North American Soccer League, and Chris played in 1976 Olympic qualifiers. Matt and Chris each won two Super Bowls.