Emam-Ali Habibi

Imam Ali Habibi Goudarzi, Persian امامعلی حبیبی گودرزی, ( born April 13, 1931 in Babol ) is a former Iranian wrestler and politician. He was awarded the gold medal in the weight category 67 kg ( lightweight ) at the Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956.

Imam Ali Habibi, whose nickname Babr -e Mazandaran ( German The Tiger Māzandarāns ) is one of the most successful freestyle wrestlers of his time.

His first gold medal - the first-ever gold medal in an Olympic tournament Iran - he won in the weight category 67 kg at the Summer Olympics of 1956 in Melbourne. In the Asian Games of 1958 in Tokyo, he won in the same weight class his second gold medal. A year later he was at the Wrestling World Championships 1959 in Tehran in the weight category 73 kg for the third consecutive time gold medalist.

In the Summer Olympics of 1960, the Rome fought out, Habibi missed a medal. To the surprise of many experts, he lost in the semifinals against Douglas Blubaugh, which he dominated for much of the fight. The completely dejected Habibi also lost the battle for the bronze medal. He recovered quickly from the shock experience. Only one year later, at the Wrestling World Championships of 1961 in Yokohama, he managed another great success: winning the gold medal. In the Wrestling World Championships of 1962, which took place in Toledo, Habibi joined in the weight class of 78 kg and won gold again.

Imam Ali Habibi moved to his successful career in politics. For his contributions to the sport wrestler he was taken in September 2007 in the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame.