Mohamed Bahari (born 29 June 1976) is a retired Algerian boxer best known for winning the bronze medal in the middleweight division (71–75 kg) at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Born in Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria, he emerged from the country’s amateur ranks in the 1990s and represented Algeria on the international stage. His Olympic success remains the most widely cited achievement of his boxing career.
Bahari competed as an amateur in the middleweight class, a division that traditionally blends speed and power. At the Atlanta Games he reached the semifinals and secured an Olympic bronze, a notable accomplishment for any athlete and a key moment for Algerian boxing. The Olympic boxing format awards two bronze medals, one to each losing semifinalist, and Bahari’s podium finish placed him among his nation’s most successful Olympic boxers of that era. For background on his hometown and national ties, see Sidi Bel Abbes and Algeria.
After his amateur peak, Bahari turned professional in 2003 and had a brief pro career that lasted until 2004. During that period he compiled a record of three wins, two losses and two draws (3-2-2). His professional tenure was short compared with many former Olympians and did not produce titles at the international professional level. For general information on the sport and divisions in which he competed, see this overview of boxing.
Career context and significance
Olympic medals are often career-defining for boxers from nations with smaller professional infrastructures; Bahari’s bronze contributed to Algeria’s sporting recognition at the 1996 Games. The Atlanta Olympics are documented in contemporary reports and databases; for an authoritative source on those Games consult summaries of the 1996 Summer Olympics and material related to Atlanta as the host city.
- Full name: Mohamed Bahari.
- Born: 29 June 1976, Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria.
- Discipline: Amateur and professional boxing, middleweight (71–75 kg).
- Major achievement: Olympic bronze medalist, 1996.
- Professional record: 3 wins, 2 losses, 2 draws (turned pro 2003, last fight 2004).
Although Bahari did not have a long professional career, his Olympic medal remains a lasting part of his legacy. He is frequently referenced in accounts of Algerian boxing history and in lists of the country’s Olympic medalists. Researchers and fans looking for more detailed fight records and match results can consult boxing databases and Olympic archives for bout-by-bout accounts of the 1996 middleweight tournament.