Mehmet Akif Pirim

Mehmet Akif Pirim (September 17, 1968, Rize, Turkey), is a former Turkish Olympic medalist sports wrestler in the Featherweight class (62 kg), 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 (57 kg)
 1991 European Championships in Aschaffenburg, Germany – 9th (62 kg)
 1991 Mediterranean Games in Athens, Greece – gold (62 kg)
 1991 World Championships in Varna, Bulgaria – silver (62 kg) 
 1992 European Championships in Kopenhagen, Denmark – 7th (62 kg)
 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain – gold (62 kg)
 1993 Mediterranean Games in Aude,  Languedoc-Roussillon, France – gold (62 kg)
 1995 European Championships in Besançon, France – 6th (62 kg)
 1995 Military World Games in Rome, Italy – gold (62 kg)
 1996 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary – 5th (62 kg)
 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. – bronze (62 kg)
 1997 Mediterranean Games in Bari, Italy – gold (62 kg)

References

External links
 Olympics Database
 Who is who 
 1992 Olympics Greco-Roman 62kg final match at YouTube

Category:1968 births
Category:People from Rize
Category:Wrestlers at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Category:Wrestlers at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Category:Azerbaijani male sport wrestlers
Category:Olympic gold medalists for Turkey
Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Turkey
Category:Turkish male sport wrestlers
Category:Living people
Category:Olympic medalists in wrestling
Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Category:Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics

Category:Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Turkey
Category:Competitors at the 1991 Mediterranean Games
Category:Competitors at the 1993 Mediterranean Games
Category:Competitors at the 1997 Mediterranean Games
Category:Mediterranean Games medalists in wrestling