Dimitris Tofalos - Revision history

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2008-04-22T09:11:04Z

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Irlandos at 09:10, April 22, 2008

2008-04-22T09:10:39Z

Irlandos at 09:09, April 22, 2008

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Irlandos at 09:04, April 22, 2008

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Irlandos at 08:58, April 22, 2008

2008-04-22T08:58:29Z

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References

Irlandos: New page: '''Dimitris Tofalos''' (Δημήτριος Τόφαλος, born [[1877other sources report is year of birth: 1884 in Patra - died November 15, [[1966]...

2008-04-22T08:55:40Z

New page: '''Dimitris Tofalos''' (Δημήτριος Τόφαλος, born [[1877<ref>other sources report is year of birth: 1884</ref> in Patra - died November 15, [[1966]...

New page

'''Dimitris Tofalos''' ([[Greek language|Δημήτριος Τόφαλος, born [[1877]]<ref>other sources report is year of birth: 1884</ref> in [[Patra]] - died [[November 15]], [[1966]]) was a [[Greeks|Greek]] [[weightlifting|weightlifter]]. He was a member of both Gymnastiki Etaireia Patron and Panachaikos Gymnastikos syllogos, that merged in [[1923]] to become Panachaiki Gymnastiki Enosi. Arguably the greatest weightlifter of the early [[20th century]], he won the gold medal in the [[1906 Summer Olympics]], setting a world record that lasted until [[1914]].<ref>Polites, N. (1997)</ref>

==Early years==

Tofalos' herculean strength was obvious from his childhood. Everybody talked about his physical abilities and for some time he was considered a child prodigy, since he survived a very serious accident. He was playing around a railway station, when a wagon came down on him and almost smashed his arm. He was taken to hospital where the doctors said that his arm should be amputated. Tofalos' father opposed to it and finally proved to be right. His son recovered, but as a result of the accident one of his arms was shorter than the other.<ref> [http://www.hoc.gr/EN/info/periodika/7o/4.asp Tofalos' story] author=Papachristou T. publisher=Hellenic Olympic Committee official website 2005-3-24</ref>His physical defect did not stop him from becoming one of the greatest [[Greeks|Greek]] athletes of all times.

==1906 Summer Olympics==

Unable to take part in the 1904 Summer Olympics due to an illness, he competed at the [[1906 Summer Olympics]], where he took part in the two-days weightlifting competition with both hands. On the first day the gold winner was not decided yet, so the next day two weightlifters fought each other for the gold medal; Tofalos and Austrian giant Joseph Steinbach. Both of them lifted 136.5 kg very easily. They then had to lift 142.5 kg, but both Tofalos and Steinbach failed on their 1st attempt. The Greek champion broke his own world record by lifting the weight on his third attempt, whereas the Austrian athlete with a rushed and rather anxious move failed without even managing to bring the bar close to his knees. Tofalos won the gold medal, while fans were cheering him frantically.<ref>[http://www.hoc.gr/EN/info/periodika/7o/4.asp Tofalos' story] Papachristou T. Hellenic Olympic Committee official website 2005-3-24</ref>His record lasted until [[1914]].

==The USA and the comeback==

In [[1910]], Tofalos travelled to the United States for financial reasons. He worked as a professional wrestler and became famous for his persistence rather than his strength. There were many reports about Tofalos for a long time, when he refused to give up a game after a crushing arm-lock by the American World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Frank Gotch, who always forced his competitor to give up. His persistence cost Tofalos three months in the hospital, but that incident contributed to his legend.

After retiring, he spent many years of his life being the manager of [[Jim Londos]], a professional wrestler who was one of the most popular stars wrestling offered during the Great Depression. He eventually went back to his native [[Patras]] in [[1962]], where he spent the last three years of his life. The municipality of [[Patras]] honored him by naming a newly built arena after him in [[1995]].<ref>Dimitris Tofalos arena[http://www.stadia.gr/tofalos/tofalos.html]</ref>

==References==
* The first version of this article has been based in the text of [[:el:Δημήτριος Τόφαλος]] of the [[:el:Κύρια Σελίδα|Greek Wikipedia]] published under [[GFDL]].
* {{cite book | author=Polites, N.G.| title=Sports in Patras, Tome B, From the Tofalos period to the foundation of Panachaiki | location=Patras | publisher=Achaikes Ekdoseis | year=1997 |id=ISBN 960 7164 92 x}}
* {{cite web | url =http://www.hoc.gr/EN/info/periodika/7o/4.asp | title=Tofalos' story | author=Papachristou T. | publisher=Hellenic Olympic Committee official website| date= 2005-3-24}}
* Website about Greek stadiums and arenas.[http://www.stadia.gr/tofalos/tofalos.html]

== Notes ==
<references/>

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:1877 births|Tofalos]]
[[Category:1966 deaths]Tofalos]
[[Category:weightlifters|Tofalos]]

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 [[Category:Professional Wrestlers|Tofalos, Dimitris]]
 [[Category:Olympic Gold Medalists|Tofalos, Dimitris]]
-[[Category:1906 Olympics|Tofalos, Dimitris]]
+[[Category:1906 Summer Olympics|Tofalos, Dimitris]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:10, April 22, 2008
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	[[Category:weightlifters\|Tofalos]]		[[Category:weightlifters\|Tofalos]]
	[[Category:Professional Wrestlers\|Tofalos, Dimitris]]		[[Category:Professional Wrestlers\|Tofalos, Dimitris]]
		+	[[Category:Olympic Gold Medalists\|Tofalos, Dimitris]]
		+	[[Category:1906 Olympics\|Tofalos, Dimitris]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:04, April 22, 2008
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		+	{\| {{prettyinfobox}}
		+	\|colspan=3 align=center\|[[image:olympic-rings.png\|center\|80px]]
		+	\|- align=center
		+	\|bgcolor="gold"\| Gold\|\| [[1906 Summer Olympics\|1906]]\|\| Weightlifting
		+	\|}
		+
	'''Dimitris Tofalos''' ([[Greek language\|Greek]] Δημήτριος Τόφαλος, born [[1877]]<ref>other sources report is year of birth: 1884</ref> in [[Patra]] - died [[November 15]], [[1966]]) was a [[Greeks\|Greek]] [[weightlifting\|weightlifter]]. He was a member of both Gymnastiki Etaireia Patron and Panachaikos Gymnastikos syllogos, that merged in [[1923]] to become Panachaiki Gymnastiki Enosi. Arguably the greatest weightlifter of the early [[20th century]], he won the gold medal in the [[1906 Summer Olympics]], setting a world record that lasted until [[1914]].<ref>Polites, N. (1997)</ref>		'''Dimitris Tofalos''' ([[Greek language\|Greek]] Δημήτριος Τόφαλος, born [[1877]]<ref>other sources report is year of birth: 1884</ref> in [[Patra]] - died [[November 15]], [[1966]]) was a [[Greeks\|Greek]] [[weightlifting\|weightlifter]]. He was a member of both Gymnastiki Etaireia Patron and Panachaikos Gymnastikos syllogos, that merged in [[1923]] to become Panachaiki Gymnastiki Enosi. Arguably the greatest weightlifter of the early [[20th century]], he won the gold medal in the [[1906 Summer Olympics]], setting a world record that lasted until [[1914]].<ref>Polites, N. (1997)</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:58, April 22, 2008
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	'''Dimitris Tofalos''' ([[Greek language\|Δημήτριος Τόφαλος, born [[1877]]<ref>other sources report is year of birth: 1884</ref> in [[Patra]] - died [[November 15]], [[1966]]) was a [[Greeks\|Greek]] [[weightlifting\|weightlifter]]. He was a member of both Gymnastiki Etaireia Patron and Panachaikos Gymnastikos syllogos, that merged in [[1923]] to become Panachaiki Gymnastiki Enosi. Arguably the greatest weightlifter of the early [[20th century]], he won the gold medal in the [[1906 Summer Olympics]], setting a world record that lasted until [[1914]].<ref>Polites, N. (1997)</ref>	+	'''Dimitris Tofalos''' ([[Greek language\|Greek]] Δημήτριος Τόφαλος, born [[1877]]<ref>other sources report is year of birth: 1884</ref> in [[Patra]] - died [[November 15]], [[1966]]) was a [[Greeks\|Greek]] [[weightlifting\|weightlifter]]. He was a member of both Gymnastiki Etaireia Patron and Panachaikos Gymnastikos syllogos, that merged in [[1923]] to become Panachaiki Gymnastiki Enosi. Arguably the greatest weightlifter of the early [[20th century]], he won the gold medal in the [[1906 Summer Olympics]], setting a world record that lasted until [[1914]].<ref>Polites, N. (1997)</ref>

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 [[Category:1877 births|Tofalos]]
-[[Category:1966 deaths]Tofalos]]
+[[Category:1966 deaths|Tofalos]]
 [[Category:weightlifters|Tofalos]]

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 Unable to take part in the 1904 Summer Olympics due to an illness, he competed at the [[1906 Summer Olympics]], where he took part in the two-days weightlifting competition with both hands. On the first day the gold winner was not decided yet, so the next day two weightlifters fought each other for the gold medal; Tofalos and Austrian giant Joseph Steinbach. Both of them lifted 136.5 kg very easily. They then had to lift 142.5 kg, but both Tofalos and Steinbach failed on their 1st attempt. The Greek champion broke his own world record by lifting the weight on his third attempt, whereas the Austrian athlete with a rushed and rather anxious move failed without even managing to bring the bar close to his knees. Tofalos won the gold medal, while fans were cheering him frantically.<ref>[http://www.hoc.gr/EN/info/periodika/7o/4.asp Tofalos' story] Papachristou T. Hellenic Olympic Committee official website 2005-3-24</ref>His record lasted until [[1914]].
-==The USA and the comeback==
+== USA ==
 In [[1910]], Tofalos travelled to the United States for financial reasons. He worked as a professional wrestler and became famous for his persistence rather than his strength. There were many reports about Tofalos for a long time, when he refused to give up a game after a crushing arm-lock by the American World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Frank Gotch, who always forced his competitor to give up. His persistence cost Tofalos three months in the hospital, but that incident contributed to his legend.
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 [[Category:1966 deaths|Tofalos]]
 [[Category:weightlifters|Tofalos]]

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 ==References==
-* The first version of this article has been based in the text of [[:el:Δημήτριος Τόφαλος]] of the [[:el:Κύρια Σελίδα|Greek Wikipedia]] published under [[GFDL]].
+* The first version of this article has been based in the text of [[:el:Δημήτριος Τόφαλος]] of the [[:el:Κύρια Σελίδα|Greek Wikipedia]] published under GFDL.
-* {{cite book | author=Polites, N.G.| title=Sports in Patras, Tome B, From the Tofalos period to the foundation of Panachaiki | location=Patras | publisher=Achaikes Ekdoseis | year=1997 |id=ISBN 960 7164 92 x}}
+* Polites, N.G. Sports in Patras, Tome B, From the Tofalos period to the foundation of Panachaiki Patras Achaikes Ekdoseis 1997 ISBN 960 7164 92 x
-* {{cite web |  url =http://www.hoc.gr/EN/info/periodika/7o/4.asp | title=Tofalos' story | author=Papachristou T. | publisher=Hellenic Olympic Committee official website| date= 2005-3-24}}
+* Website about Greek stadiums and arenas.[http://www.stadia.gr/tofalos/tofalos.html]
 * Website about Greek stadiums and arenas.[http://www.stadia.gr/tofalos/tofalos.html]
 == Notes ==
 <references/>