, freestyle 68 kg. From left to right,
Enyu Valchev,
Abdollah Movahed and
Nodar Khokhashvili While living in Babolsar Movahed trained in gymnastics,
volleyball, and swimming. In
Tehran he continued playing volleyball and took up weightlifting, but stopped due to a bout of
hepatitis. After recovering he changed to wrestling upon advice from his brother Mehdi. Abdollah began competing in 1959, and next year participated in the Iranian Olympic Trials. Coaches soon noted Movahed's technical prowess, and believed that with the proper conditioning, he had the potential to be a world champion. Their suspicions were confirmed: between 1965 and 1970 Movahed won every major contest that he entered. The highlight of Movahed's career was the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, where he won the gold medal. At the 1972 Games he injured his shoulder in the early rounds, and did not advance to the final. Movahed later moved to the United States, but refused to train American wrestlers because they might face Iranian opponents in international tournaments. He was inducted into the
FILA wrestling hall of fame. He lived in the U.S. city of
Fairfax, Virginia. ==Death==