Puskasu, Vasile

He began to engage in wrestling in Onesti , at the age of 14, speaking at the qualifying competitions of the national championship in his native village and, without being engaged in this struggle, he was able to qualify for the next stages, but he already lost. However, he was noticed by a coach who saw the abilities in him, and three months later Vasile Puskasu won the Romanian youth championship in Constanta, while in the Greco-Roman wrestling ^[3] After the first local successes, he moved to the Clubul Sportive Minicipal club , where started to practice with good coaches. In 1977, for the first time, he won the Romanian championship and began an international career.

In 1977, he was third at the German Grand Prix, sixth at the European Championships and won bronze at the World Championships. In 1978, he was second in the German Grand Prix tournament and bronze medalist of the European Championship, and remained fifth in the World Championship. In 1979, he won the German Grand Prix and again won the bronze medal at the European Championships. In 1980, at the European Championship was only fifth

At the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, he fought in the category of up to 100 kilograms ( heavy weight ).

The elimination of the tournament took place as penalties accumulated. No penalty points were awarded for a clean victory, 0.5 penalty points were awarded for a victory for a clear advantage, 1 penalty point for a victory for a point, 2 or 2.5 penalty points for a tie, 3 points for a defeat, 3 clear loss for a victory , 5 points, a clear defeat - 4 points. If a wrestler scored 6 or more penalty points, he was eliminated from the tournament. The title was disputed by 15 people. Vasile Puskasu, in four meetings, was defeated twice and dropped out of the tournament, taking the final sixth place.

In 1981, he remained fourth at the 1981 European Championships and Universiade . In 1982, only 12 remained at the World Cup, and finished fifth in the European Championship. In 1984, he was again fifth at the European Championships.

At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he performed in the category of up to 100 kilograms ( heavy weight ). Tournament participants, numbering 11 people in the category, were divided into two groups. Points were awarded for winning fights, from 4 points for a clear victory and 0 points for a clear defeat. When three wrestlers with the highest scores were determined in each group (the struggle took place according to the system with elimination after two defeats ), they played among themselves the places in the group. Then the winners of the groups met in the battle for the first or second places, who took second place - for the third-fourth places, took third place - for the fifth-sixth places. Vasile Puskasu, not without the participation of the lots and injuries of other participants, managed to break into the final bouts and then won the meeting for third place.

In 1987 he became vice champion at the World Championships and at the European Championships. In 1988, he was only ninth at the European Championships.

At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, he fought in the category of up to 100 kilograms ( heavy weight ). The tournament participants, numbering 22 people in the category, were divided into two groups. Points were awarded for winning fights, from 4 points for a clear victory and 0 points for a clear defeat. In each group, four wrestlers with the highest scores were determined (the fight was held according to the system with elimination after two defeats ). Then the winners of the groups met in the battle for the first or second places, who took second place - for third-fourth places, who took third place - for fifth-sixth places, fourth - for seventh-eighth places. Puskasu managed to reach the finals, where he met with a Soviet wrestler, a clear favorite of the tournament, Leri Khabelov, who in previous tournaments, the Romanian wrestler could not take a point. But the Soviet wrestler was seriously injured:

On the first day of the competition, tears of the abdominal and femoral muscles were added to the complete rupture of the right inguinal ligament. Yarygin carefully, so as not to offend the great fighter, offers to withdraw from the tournament, not really hoping to get agreement. And the ward is true to himself - after six injections, with unceasing pain, he is determined to fight for Olympic gold.

“Then I thought a lot, analyzed the situation,” Khabelov recalls. - I understood that Romanians are not a gift. He didn’t shine with technology, but he was hardy and very strong ... Only in one thing I miscalculated - I thought that Pushkash would attack me, because I was absolutely defenseless. ”

The 40-year-old Puskasu does not know how happy he is. Remembering the strength of his most “difficult rival”, he doesn’t come closer, runs around the carpet - protects his shoulder blades. In the second half of the bout, both fighters have two warnings. Khabelov takes risks, goes on the offensive, tries to throw and breaks down. According to the then rules, the risk was punished. Puskasu receives one point - a precious gift from the judges, which makes him an Olympic champion. Khabelov is the second. The happy Romanian, it seems, did not understand that the opponent was struggling to keep his feet.

- http://www.rcmagazine.ge/component/content/article/1414.html?ed=46

After the Olympic Games, he left sports. From 1988 to 1990 he coached at the club, from 1990 to 1992 he coached the Olympic team. Then, until 2000, he was not in sports, developing his business (grocery stores). From 2000 to 2011, he was Secretary General of the Romanian Wrestling Federation, and resigned, citing health. ^[four]

In Romania, the tournament "Vasile Puskasu Cup" is held.

In April 2013, he announced that he had given his medals to Vasily Andrei , also an Olympic wrestling champion, several years ago for organizing exhibitions. According to Vasile Puskash, after repeated demands, Andre Vasile returned the medals, but the gold Olympic award may have been returned fake. ^[five]

• Vasile Puskasu - Olympic statistics at Sports-Reference.com
• Vasile Puskasu - profile on the International Wrestling Database website