Falih Fahmi

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameFalih Akram•Fahmi
Used nameFalih•Fahmi
Original nameفالح أكرم•فهمي
Born1940 in Baghdad, Baghdad (IRQ)
Died25 January 1989 in Abu Ghraib, Baghdad (IRQ)
Measurements177 cm / 66 kg
AffiliationsAl-Adhamiyah, Baghdad (IRQ)
NOC Iraq

Biography

Falih Fahmi was the son of Akram Fahmi, who was President of Iraq’s National Olympic Committee from 1958 through 1962. Falih took up basketball and track and field as a student at Iraq’s elite Baghdad College secondary school and honed his skills as a member of the city’s Al Adhamiyah Club. He was then selected to represent his country at the 1960 Summer Olympics, where he was eliminated in round one of the 4 x 100 metres relay alongside Jassim Karim Kuraishi, Khudhir Zalata, and Mahmoud Ghanim. He was also eliminated in the opening heats of the 200 metres, but did get the opportunity to carry the Iraqi flag in the opening ceremony. Outside of the Olympics, he competed in the first Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO) in 1963, as well as the 1965 Pan Arab Games, where he won the 200 metres event. Nationally, he earned numerous titles in short distances, hurdles, and the long jump. He also captained the national basketball team.

Fahmi was a career military officer, rising to the rank of General, but also remained involved in sports administration, holding several executive positions within the Iraqi National Olympic Committee. He led the Iraqi delegation to the 1984 Summer Olympics and, within the army, was the director of physical training and military games. Despite his popularity in sporting circles both at home and abroad, he was arrested in 1986, allegedly for insulting Saddam Hussein in front of other officers. Fahmi was tortured and, despite others accused of greater crimes being pardoned after the Iran-Iraq War, executed in 1989. It was thought he was treated more harshly due to the fact that he came from a prominent family, which was seen as a potential threat to Saddam.

Personal Bests: 100 – unknown; 200 – unknown.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics IRQ Falih Fahmi
200 metres, Men (Olympic) 4 h12 r1/4
4 × 100 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) Iraq 4 h1 r1/3

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1960 Summer Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony IRQ Falih Fahmi

Olympic family relations

Special Notes