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Joseph Atiyeh (Arabic: جوزيف عطية, born October 8, 1957 in Amar al-hosn, Homs Governorate, Syria) is a Syrian wrestler, and the winner of Syria's first Olympic medal.
In the 1984 Summer Olympics, he represented his country in the freestyle heavyweight 100 kg competition, and won a silver medal, the first Olympic medal for Syria. Though Atiyeh lived his life in the United States, and studied at Louisiana State University, where he was on the school's wrestling team, he qualified as a dual citizen and wrestled for Syria.
Atiyeh made it to the finals against Lou Banach of the United States and lost by fall in 61 seconds. Atiyeh had wrestled Banach in 1978 at the Midlands wrestling championship in Chicago,Illinois. Atiyeh wrestled for Louisiana State University and won 13-10 in his first round of the championship against Lou Banach. "Midlands wrestling brackets" 1978. Atiyeh also wrestled and beat Vasille Puscassu from Romania by fall, first round of 1984 Olympics, Los Angeles,California. Puscassu went on to win the 1988 Olympic gold medal in the heavyweight category in Seoul, Korea. Atiyeh also beat Kartar Singh Dillon, India by fall in 33 seconds. It is one of the fastest falls in Olympic history. Kartar Singh Dillon is a two time Asian champion and a major hero in India.
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