Kurtdereli Mehmet

Pehlivan Pehlivan or Pahlevan derives from Iranian language word meaning ''noble'', ''wrestler'', ''hero'' or ''champion'' and it is a loan word in many Asiatic languages as well as middle eastern languages including Turkey, Turkish surname originally given ...

(1864 in Bukurovo village near Tırnova – April 11, 1939 in Kurtdere village near

Balıkesir Balıkesir () is a city in Turkey and is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is located in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 338,936. Between 1341–1922, it was the capital of Karasi. History Close to ...

) was a

wrestler Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat spor ...

. He lived most of his life in the village of Kurtdere, 40 km from

. He stood 6'5 (196 cm) tall and weighed 326 lb (148 kg). He fought with all of the famous wrestlers of his time and gained notoriety throughout Asia Minor and Europe. He became wrestling champion ( tr, başpehlivan) in

Kırkpınar Kırkpınar is a Turkish oil wrestling ( tr, yağlı güreş) tournament where Pehlivans (wrestlers) compete for three days. It is held annually, usually in late June, near Edirne, Turkey since 1360. In the finals held on the last day, the first ...

, a traditional oil wrestling tournament near

Edirne Edirne (, ), formerly known as Adrianople or Hadrianopolis ( Greek: Άδριανούπολις), is a city in Turkey, in the northwestern part of the province of Edirne in Eastern Thrace. Situated from the Greek and from the Bulgarian borders ...

, Turkey. He earned his title by defeating Kara Osman. He traveled to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, promoted by French wrestler and promoter Joseph Doublier during the "Greek Invasion," when Doublier recruited and first promoted Turkish wrestlers in France with great commercial success. Among the Turkish wrestlers brought to France by Doublier were Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan, Kartanci Mehmhet Pehlivan, Yusuf Ismail, Kara Osman, and Nurullah Hasan. He later competed in Great Britain, The Netherlands and the USA but was never defeated. The surname he took after the adoption the 1934 Law in Turkey on Family Names was ''Baykurt''.

References

1864 births 1939 deaths People from Gabrovo Province Turkish male sport wrestlers {{Turkey-wrestling-bio-stub