By Anadolu Agency
January 7, 2025 1:11 pmISTANBUL
Yasar Dogu, affectionately known as “the father of Turkish wrestling,” is being honored on the 64th anniversary of his passing away.
Dogu died of a heart attack in Ankara on Jan. 8, 1961. The legendary wrestler was laid to rest at Cebeci Military Cemetery in Ankara, the Turkish capital.
The wrestling virtuoso reached the pinnacle of his career by winning the gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics, etching his name among the sport’s legends.
He further cemented his legacy by winning gold at the 1949 European Championship in Istanbul. Notably, Dogu had the opportunity to compete in the World Championship only once in his lifetime.
At the 1951 Helsinki World Championship, all members of the Turkish National Wrestling Team returned home as champions. The team included Yasar Dogu, Nurettin Zafer, Haydar Zafer, Nasuh Akar, Celal Atik, Ali Yucel, Ibrahim Zengin, and Adil Candemir.
Competing at 87 kg, Dogu secured the first and only world championship of his career.
Representing his nation in 47 matches while wearing the crescent and star jersey, Dogu lost only once and achieved victory in 46 matches, with 33 of them by pinfall.
After his father was killed in World War I, Dogu was raised in his grandfather’s home in the Emirli district of Türkiye’s northern Samsun province, where he began practicing a traditional Turkish folk wrestling style known as “Karakucak.”
During his military service, Dogu continued to pursue wrestling, gaining recognition for his remarkable achievements and emerging as a prominent figure in the sport.
He suffered a heart attack while in Sweden with his team. Ignoring doctors’ advice to rest, he returned home and continued training young wrestlers, showcasing his unwavering dedication to the sport.
Dogu passed away on Jan. 8, 1961, after another heart attack in Ankara. He was laid to rest at the Cebeci Military Cemetery in Ankara.
The house where Dogu lived in the Emirli neighborhood of Samsun, a reflection of his lifelong commitment to wrestling, has been preserved as a memorial house museum and is open to visitors.
Here are the notable achievements of Dogu, the father of Turkish wrestling:
– 1939 European Wrestling Championships (Oslo, Norway) – Silver (Greco-Roman, Lightweight)
- 1940 Balkan Wrestling Championships (Istanbul, Türkiye) – Gold (Greco-Roman, Lightweight)
– 1946 European Wrestling Championships (Stockholm, Sweden) – Gold (Freestyle, Welterweight)
– 1947 European Wrestling Championships (Prague, Czechoslovakia) – Gold (Greco-Roman, Welterweight)
– 1948 Summer Olympics (London, England) – Gold (Freestyle, Welterweight)
– 1949 European Wrestling Championships (Istanbul, Türkiye) – Gold (Freestyle, Middleweight)
– 1951 World Wrestling Championships (Helsinki, Finland) – Gold (Freestyle, Light Heavyweight)
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