Daniel Bekker
Encyclopedia
Daniel "Daan" Wepener Bekker (9 February 1932 – 22 October 2009) was a South Africa
n boxer
, who won the bronze medal in the Heavyweight division (+ 91 kg) at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne
, Australia
. Four years later in Rome
he captured the silver medal in the same category.
and Alzheimer's disease
s.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, who won the bronze medal in the Heavyweight division (+ 91 kg) at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Four years later in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
he captured the silver medal in the same category.
Olympic Results
- 1956 won the Heavyweight bronze medal at the Melbourne Olympics.
- Defeated José Giorgetti (Argentina) KO-1
- Lost to Pete RademacherPete RademacherThomas Peter Rademacher is a former boxer who made boxing history by being the only man to fight for the world heavyweight championship in his first professional fight.-Amateur career:...
(USA) KO-3
- 1958 won the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales.
- Defeated S. Renaud (Canada) TKO-1
- Defeated Gbadegesin Salawu (Nigeria) TKO-2
- Defeated David Thomas (England) PTS
- 1960 won the Heavyweight silver medal at the Rome Olympics.
- Defeated Władysław Jędrzejewski (Poland) TKO-1
- Defeated Obrad Sretenovic (Yugoslavia) KO-1
- Defeated Günther Siegmund (East Germany) PTS (4-1)
- Lost to Franco De PiccoliFranco De PiccoliFrancesco De Piccoli is a former Italian boxer, who won the gold medal in the Heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.-Amateur career:...
(Italy) KO-2
Death
Bekker died on 22 October 2009 after a long struggle with Parkinson'sParkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
and Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
s.