Austria mourns Biko Botowamungu: last Olympic boxer dies

Austria mourns Biko Botowamungu: last Olympic boxer dies

Biko Botowamungu, the last Olympic boxing entrant for Austria, died last Sunday at the age of 68. The death of the former boxer was confirmed by his environment and boxing association circles. Botowamungu died of kidney failure and a pulmonary embolism after disclosing dementia last year. His wife Nakale said on Facebook that she wished him peace and expressed sadness over his loss.

Born in 1957 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Botowamungu began his wrestling career in the United States before moving to Austria in 1978. There he developed a passion for boxing, inspired by the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. In the 1980s he became Austrian heavyweight and super heavyweight champion. His remarkable career took him to the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where he competed against eventual world champion Riddick Bowe.

Career and achievements

Botowamungu qualified for the Olympic Games through a grueling qualification, in which he first suffered a points defeat against Aziz Salihu, but then won against István Szikora and Peter Hrivňák. After his amateur career he was active professionally and worked for the well-known promoter Don King. During this time he was also a sparring partner of the world-famous boxer Mike Tyson.

In addition to his sporting career, Botowamungu was also active in wrestling as "Dr. Biko" and worked for a time as security at the UN. He experienced a religious change in 1994, which led to a fundamental change in lifestyle. After his active career, he became a preacher in the Vienna Baptist Church and tried to face the challenges of life with a newly formed faith. He also gained public attention in 2013 when he took part in the ORF show “Dancing Stars”.

A sport full of risks

Botowamungu's death sheds light on the health risks of boxing, which, despite its popularity, poses numerous dangers. Studies show that injury rates in professional boxing, as well as acute and chronic health consequences, are widespread. There are particular risks for older boxers who have had a long career. They can suffer from neuropsychiatric complications, including memory impairment and depression.

Medical research has closely examined the complications in boxing. Permanent cognitive impairments are common, and around 10-20% of professional boxers suffer from chronic symptoms such as tremors and aggressiveness. The World Medical Association is even calling for a ban on boxing due to the significant health risks. This debate is even more relevant when considering the fate of athletes like Botowamungu and discussing the associated challenges of sport.