Mahmut Atalay
Mahmut Atalay (1934, Çorum – 5 December 2004, Ankara) was a Çorum-born Olympic champion who won gold in freestyle wrestling at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Birth and Youth
According to independent sources (Olympedia, the Turkish Wrestling Foundation), Atalay was born in the village of Çorak, part of Çorum’s central district — also known locally as Cemilbey; his exact birth date varies between sources (18 March or 30 March 1934). His family was among those who migrated from the Caucasus after 1864. He began in oil wrestling before moving to freestyle.
Olympic and World Titles
Atalay placed fourth in freestyle at 70 kg at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, then won gold at 78 kg at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. At the World Championships he placed fourth in Sofia (1963), took silver in Manchester (1965), won gold at 78 kg in Toledo (1966), and placed fourth in New Delhi (1967). He also won silver medals at European Championships, though sources differ slightly on the exact years (Olympedia gives 1966 and 1967; the Turkish Wrestling Foundation gives 1968 Karlsruhe). He won gold at 73 kg at the Mediterranean Games in Beirut (1959) and Naples (1963), and at the Balkan Championships in Istanbul (1963) and Yanbolu (1967).
The number of Turkish national titles he won also varies by source: the Turkish Wrestling Foundation gives 15, while the official list of the Çorum Directorate of Culture and Tourism gives 18.
Later Years
After retiring from active competition, Atalay coached the national team. Married with three children, he worked in trade. He died in Ankara on 5 December 2004.
For another Çorum-born Olympic wrestling champion, see Tevfik Kış.