Nicolae Linca
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Competitor for  Romania
| ||
| Men's Boxing | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | Melbourne 1956 | Welterweight |
| European Amateur Championships | ||
| Bronze | Warsaw 1953 | Welterweight |
| Bronze | Berlin 1955 | |
Nicolae Linca (1 January 1929 in Cergăul Mare (village now incorporated in the town of Blaj, Alba County, Romania – 27 June 2008 in Feisa, Alba County, Romania) was a Romanian amateur boxer and Romania's first olympic boxing champion.
Amateur career
Linca defeated Frederick Tiedt of Ireland on a 3-2 decision, to capture the Olympic Gold Medal in the 148 pound (Welterweight) class at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Tiedt actually received more total points, but Linca was given the decision by three of the five judges. In the semi-final and final, he boxed with a severe injury in the right hand, which made him an example of resilience and courage. Toward the end of his life, he suffered of various illnesses.In the early 1990-s, Romanian media found him living in abject poverty and forgotten by his former club and sports authorities. The public outcry caused by his situation led the Romanian Parliament to vote a law whereby Olympic medalists, past, present and future, would receive a monthly allowance from the Government from the day of their retirement from sport, up to their death.
His trainer was Constantin Nour.[1]
Pro career
Linca, like many Eastern Bloc boxers of his era, did not have a professional career.
Olympic results
- Boxing at the 1956 Summer Olympics:
- Defeated Hector Hatch (Fiji) points (5-0)
- Defeated Nicholas Andre (South Africa) points (5-0)
- Defeated Nicholas Gargano (Great Britain) points (4-1)
- Defeated Frederick Tiedt (Ireland)points 3-2
Awards
- Sports Merit Order, First Class (2005)[2]
References
- ↑ "Olimpiada desfăşurată pe două continente" (in Romanian). Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Nicolae Linca, marele pugilist al Romaniei, s-a stins din viata" (in Romanian). Retrieved April 5, 2014.
External links
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