SA Olympic wrestler dies

2004-06-16 13:23

Johannesburg - Blondie Pienaar, who represented South Africa as a wrestler at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki and the 1956 Games in Melbourne, has died at his home in Browns Bay, Auckland, aged 79.

"Pienaar was an icon in South African wrestling - one of the best this country has seen," life-time friend an wrestling official Dirkie Kotze said on Wednesday.

Pienaar dominated the South African and Western Province light and welterweight divisions for many years. He won his first WP title in 1948 and his first national in 1952.

In 1954 Pienaar proved himself to be a world-class wrestler when he won the gold medal in the lightweight division at the Vancouver Games.

In 1955 he was once again one of the stars in the South African team when he won the welterweight division against the touring British and Swedish sides.

In 16 consecutive SA championships he won nine times with six silver medals.

In his career Pienaar had 421 fights of which he won 402.

In 1963 he turned professional where he won the South African lightweight and welterweight divisions.

He retired unbeaten after 61 fights.

- SAPA