Robert Beck (pentathlete)

Robert Lee Beck (December 30, 1936 – April 2, 2020) was an American modern pentathlete and fencer who won three gold medals in these disciplines at the Pan American Games in 1963–1971.[1] He also won bronze medals in the individual and team modern pentathlon events at the 1960 Summer Olympics. He was less successful at the 1968 Games, placing 22nd individually and fourth with the American team.[2][3]

Robert Beck
Beck in 1958
Personal information
BornDecember 30, 1936
San Diego, California, U.S.
DiedApril 2, 2020(2020-04-02) (aged 83)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight76 kg (168 lb)
Sport
SportModern pentathlon, épée fencing
ClubHarvard Crimson
Medal record
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place1960 RomePentathlon, ind.
Bronze medal – third place1960 RomePentathlon, team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place1963 São PauloPentathlon, ind.
Gold medal – first place1963 São PauloPentathlon, team
Gold medal – first place1971 CaliÉpée, team

Beck graduated from the University of Virginia and Harvard Medical School.[4] Beck was a practising dentist in San Antonio, Texas, during his professional career. He was hospitalized in February 2020, due to a head injury from a fall in front of his home.[5] He died on April 2, 2020, at age 83, after contracting COVID-19.[6][7]

As of the Tokio 2020 Olympics, he was the last athlete from the United States to win an individual medal in men's pentathlon.[8]

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Beck (pentathlete).
  1. Steven Olderr (September 14, 2009). The Pan American Games / Los Juegos Panamericanos: A Statistical History, 1951–1999, bilingual edition / Una Historia Estadística, 1951–1999, edición bilingüe. McFarland. pp. 99, 148. ISBN 978-1-4766-0468-8.
  2. "Olympics Statistics: Robert Beck". databaseolympics.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  3. "Robert Beck Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  4. "Olympedia – Bob Beck".
  5. "Tribute to Dr. Robert "Bob' Beck Olympic Pentathlon Medalist Passes at 83". Team USA. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  6. "Double Olympic medallist Beck dies at 83". www.insidethegames.biz. April 5, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  7. "Tribute to Dr. Robert "Bob" Beck, Olympic Pentathlon Medalist Passes at 83". Team USA. May 2, 2020. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020.
  8. Chiari, Mike. "Olympic Pentathlon 2016: Men's Medal Winners, Scores and Results". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 5, 2020. and Modern pentathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympics
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