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Quick Facts
Biography
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Nicolae Martinescu (24 February 1940 – 1 April 2013) was a Greco-Roman wrestler from Romania. He competed at the 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics and won a gold medal in 1972, placing third in 1968 and fourth in 1964. At the 1976 Olympics he served as the flag bearer for Romania at the opening ceremony. Martinescu won a European title in 1966 and five medals at the world championships between 1963 and 1974. Domestically he collected 18 Romanian national titles between 1961 and 1978.
In 1972, he was awarded the title of Merited Master of Sport of the USSR. After retiring from competitions he worked at the Romanian Wrestling Federation. Martinescu died aged 73 in Bucharest. He was survived by his wife, folk singer Mioara Velicu, and daughter.