Olympic freestyle wrestling champion Henry Wittenberg, 91, passed away in New York
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by USA Wrestling
Henry Wittenberg of Somers, N.Y., 91, a two-time Olympic freestyle wrestling medalist, passed away on Tuesday.
Wittenberg won a gold medal at 192 pounds at the 1948 London Olympic Games, then came back at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland to win a silver medal.
He was considered one of the greatest U.S. freestyle wrestlers in history, and was considered one of the top Olympic competitors in any sport from the New York City area.
Wittenberg was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1977.
By winning his Olympic gold and silver, Wittenberg became the first U.S. wrestler in 44 years to win a pair of Olympic medals, going back to the 1908 Olympic Games. He also won gold medals in the Maccabiah Games in 1949 and '53.
He dominated U.S. competition, winning eight National AAU freestyle tournaments. He reportedly went 10 years without a domestic loss.
He also had a successful coaching career. Wittenberg coached for Yeshiva University and the City College of New York (CCNY). He was the United States national team coach in 1959 on the first trip to the Soviet Union and coached two U.S. Maccabiah Games team. He also a U.S. Greco-Roman team coach in the 1968 Olympic Games at Mexico City.
Wittenberg served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served as a New York City police officer, retiring as a sergeant in 1954.
According to the New York Times, "Wittenberg is survived by his son, Michael, of Pleasantville, N.Y.; his daughter, Susan Wittenberg, of Manhattan; and two grandsons. His wife, a former New York City police officer who fenced at Hunter College and coached women's fencing at City College, died in 2008."
New York Times obituary
National Wrestling Hall of Fame biography
Wittenberg won a gold medal at 192 pounds at the 1948 London Olympic Games, then came back at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland to win a silver medal.
He was considered one of the greatest U.S. freestyle wrestlers in history, and was considered one of the top Olympic competitors in any sport from the New York City area.
Wittenberg was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1977.
By winning his Olympic gold and silver, Wittenberg became the first U.S. wrestler in 44 years to win a pair of Olympic medals, going back to the 1908 Olympic Games. He also won gold medals in the Maccabiah Games in 1949 and '53.
He dominated U.S. competition, winning eight National AAU freestyle tournaments. He reportedly went 10 years without a domestic loss.
He also had a successful coaching career. Wittenberg coached for Yeshiva University and the City College of New York (CCNY). He was the United States national team coach in 1959 on the first trip to the Soviet Union and coached two U.S. Maccabiah Games team. He also a U.S. Greco-Roman team coach in the 1968 Olympic Games at Mexico City.
Wittenberg served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served as a New York City police officer, retiring as a sergeant in 1954.
According to the New York Times, "Wittenberg is survived by his son, Michael, of Pleasantville, N.Y.; his daughter, Susan Wittenberg, of Manhattan; and two grandsons. His wife, a former New York City police officer who fenced at Hunter College and coached women's fencing at City College, died in 2008."
New York Times obituary
National Wrestling Hall of Fame biography
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