Sports
Three gold medals presented at Mar-Mar Palace in Tehran by the former Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, earned George Malek-Yonan the title of Champion of Champions in Iranian Sports in the fields of track and field, pentathlon and soccer bringing the total of medals awarded to him to 47. His brother, David, was also awarded numerous gold medals by the Shah.
Having played high school soccer, basketball and volleyball, Malek-Yonan was a natural at sports. After a chance encounter with Iran’s Track and Field Coach, Ahmad Izadpanah, at Amjadieh Stadium (today known as Shahid Shiroudi Stadium), Malek-Yonan became interested in Track and Field. In 1934 Izadpanah had begun organizing various Track and Field meets and by 1936, the Iranian Athletics Federation was established and Iran joined the International Amateur Athletics Federation.
Malek-Yonan first competed in the long jump and triple jump in 1944 (1323) where he earned two silver medals. The same year he participated in Iran’s University Competitions in the Long Jump, the Triple Jump, Javelin and Shot Put, earning four more silver medals.
While studying Law at Tehran University, he won a gold medal in table tennis in 1946 (1325) and was a member of the University of Tehran Soccer, Volleyball and Basketball Teams.
Malek-Yonan was hailed as the most decorated athlete at Iran’s 1948 (1327) National Athletic Competitions, earning him the title of Champion of Champions. He was the only athlete in 1948 to have received a gold medal as well as winning the Track and Field Cup. He competed in the Pentathlon (2 x 100 Meters, 1,500 Meters, Javelin, Discus and Long Jump), as well as the 100 Meters, 200 Meters and Long Jump winning Four Gold Medals and earning first place at the 1948 Olympic Games Qualifiers, however he did not compete at the Olympics.
Malek-Yonan’s 1948 (1327) record:
100 Meters, 11/5 Seconds, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
200 Meters, 24/4 Seconds, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
Long Jump, 7/55 Meters, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
Pentathlon, 2305, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
Malek-Yonan’s 1950 (1329) record:
Long Jump, 6/43 Meters, Event: National Championship
At the Eastern Mediterranean Cup Championship he took the bronze medal in the 200 Meters, but came in fifth place in the Long Jump and Triple Jump.
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