Frank Chamizo
Frank Chamizo Marquez (born 10 July 1992) is a Cuban-Italian freestyle wrestler who competes at 74 kilograms. Starting his career in Cuba, Chamizo became a World Cup Champion, World Championship medalist and Pan American champion at 55 kilograms in 2010 and 2011, before immigrating to Italy that same year.[1][2] Since then, Chamizo became the greatest Italian wrestler of all-time,[3][4] racking up two World Championships (in 2015 at 65kg and in 2017 at 70kg, silver medal in 2019), an Olympic bronze medal in 2016, an Individual World Cup silver medal, a European Games silver medal, four European Championships, in between others.[5] Chamizo is also known for his rivalry with five-time Olympic and World champion Jordan Burroughs, whom he has gone 2–3 against, owning the last match.[6]
 Frank Chamizo at the 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Frank Chamizo Marquez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |  Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 July 1992 Matanzas, Cuba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 74 kg (163 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country |  Cuba Italy (since 2013) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Freestyle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Esercito Italiano Gamid Gamidov wrestling club (formally) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Filiberto Delgado (Cuba), Gaidar Gaidarov (Russia) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Personal life
Chamizo had a trying childhood. He grew up in poverty, and was raised by his grandmother because both of his parents lived abroad.[7] He began wrestling at the age of seven after walking into a wrestling facility out of curiosity.[7] The Cuban government eventually recognized his talent, and helped him attend a secondary school where he could continue wrestling.[1] In addition to his native Spanish, Chamizo is fluent in Italian and can also speak English.
Career in Cuba
In 2010, Chamizo won a world bronze medal for Cuba; he was only 18 at the time. The next year, he returned to the world championships, where he placed 12th. After the 2011 World Wrestling Championships, however, Cuba's wrestling federation suspended him for two years for alleged difficulties with weight management.[7] At a crossroads in life, he moved to Italy, where his ex-wife is from.
Career in Italy
In 2015, Chamizo made his world debut for Italy, and won a gold medal. Before then, no Italian had won a world or Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medal since 1980.
From there, Chamizo went on to win three more world-level medals, including a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and a gold medal at the 2017 world competition.
Overall, Chamizo won four world-level medals for Italy, and two world-level championships.
Freestyle record
Awards and honors
- 2019
World Championships (74 kg)
Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Tournament (74 kg)
- 2018
Yasar Dogu (74 kg)- Mediterranean Games (74 kg)
- European Championships (74 kg)
- Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Tournament (74 kg)
- International Ukrainian Tournament (74 kg)
- 2017
- World Championships (70 kg)
- Ion Corneanu & Ladislau Simon Memorial (70 kg)
- Ali Aliev Tournament (70 kg)
- European Championships (70 kg)
- 2016
- Olympic Games (65 kg)
- European Championships (65 kg)
- Alexander Medved Prizes (65 kg)
- 2015
- World Championships (65 kg)
- Waclaw Ziolkowski Memorial (65 kg)
- Grand Prix of Spain (70 kg)
- European Games (65 kg)
- 2014
- International D. A. Kunaev Tournament (65 kg)
- Grand Prix of Spain (65 kg)
- Ali Aliev Tournament (65 kg)
- Yasar Dogu (65 kg)
- 2013
- Henri Deglane Challenge (66 kg)
- Grand Prix of Spain (66 kg)
- 2011
- World Cup (55 kg)
- 2010
- World Championships (55 kg)
- Pan American Championships (55 kg)
References
- "A Coca-Cola Career, And Son's Olympic Success, Are a Father's Dreams Come True". October 26, 2016.
- "Frank Chamizo: "Nonna aveva fame, io ho venduto la divisa"". September 21, 2016.
- "My-Wrestling-Guide". www.my-wrestling-guide.com. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
- "Frank Chamizo podría irse al Octágono tras Tokio 2021". ADN Cuba (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-03-13.
- "Frank Chamizo beats Jordan Burroughs in Rome Clash of Titans". Olympic Channel. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
- "Lotta, Frank Chamizo vince le Ranking Series Ostia 2021: battuto in finale lo statunitense Jordan Burroughs!". OA Sport (in Italian). 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
- "Frank Chamizo, il ragazzo venuto da Cuba per diventare grande".