Iranian legendary athlete's statue unveiled in US

The Bronze sculture was unveiled on the occasion of Takhti's 50th anniversary commemoration.

Iranian sculptor Ali-Reza Khaqani made the three-foot, 110-pound (50-kg) statue that shows Takhti's upper body waving.

Gholam-Reza Takhti was born in 1930, Takhti but was called “Jahan Pahlavan,” which means “World Champion” due to his huge success in wrestling and his chivalrous behavior and sportsmanship during competitions.

Takhti won his first Iranian championship in 1950, and later became the highest ranked wrestler in the history of Iranian wrestling, winning one gold (1956 Melbourne) and two silver medals in Helsinki (1952) and Rome (1960) Olympic Games, as well as two gold in Tehran (1959) and Yokohama (1961) and two silver medals in Helsinki (1951) and Toledo (1962) World Championships. He is in the United World Wrestling (formerly known as FILA) Hall of Fame.

Takhti passed away in 1968 at the age of 37 but remains one of Iran’s greatest sports legends and beloved figures.

9417**2050

Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish