Dumitru CUC

Dumitru Cuc considered a sporting career in football, but in 1944 decided that his talents were better suited for wrestling. Drafted into the Romanian army, he competed for Dinamo București and was eventually selected to represent his country at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics in the Greco-Roman tournament as a lightweight. There, he survived until the fourth round, but was then eliminated and ranked joint-fifth overall. The following year, he just missed the podium by placing fourth at the World Championships. Shortly thereafter, he transitioned to a coaching role with his club, as well as the national team, and it was in this capacity that he earned his greatest fame. Among his students were 1972 Olympic Greco-Roman heavyweight champion Nicolae Martinescu, 1980 Olympic Greco-Roman lightweight champion Ștefan Rusu, double Olympic bantamweight medalist Ion Cernea, two-time Olympic super heavyweight bronze medalist Victor Dolipschi, and 1976 Olympic Greco-Roman flyweight runner-up Nicu Gingă.