Mehmet Akif Pirim
Mehmet Akif Pirim, is a former Turkish Olympic medalist sports wrestler in the Featherweight class, and currently a trainer. He won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Men's Greco-Roman wrestling and the bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics.
Born on September 17, 1968 in the Black Sea city of Rize, he began sports wrestling 1986 in Rize Çaykur Sports Club and continued in the clubs Halkbankası, TMO and TEDAŞ Clubs.
Akif Pirim won the silver medal at the World Championships and the gold medal three times at the Mediterranean Games and also at the first Military World Games.
As he was not qualified for the Turkish national team in 1999, Akif Pirim was offered the citizenship of Azerbaijan, which he accepted. He participated at the 1999 World Championships held in Athens, Greece, for Azerbaijan, however without success.
He is currently the head coach of the Turkish national team of Greco-Roman style wrestling.Achievements
- 1988 European Espoir Championships in Wałbrzych, Poland – 7th
- 1991 European Championships in Aschaffenburg, Germany – 9th
- 1991 Mediterranean Games in Athens, Greece – gold
- 1991 World Championships in Varna, Bulgaria – silver
- 1992 European Championships in Kopenhagen, Denmark – 7th
- 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain – gold
- 1993 Mediterranean Games in Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon, France – gold
- 1995 European Championships in Besançon, France – 6th
- 1995 Military World Games in Rome, Italy – gold
- 1996 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary – 5th
- 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. – bronze
- 1997 Mediterranean Games in Bari, Italy – gold
