Verner Weckman
Encyclopedia
Johan Verner Weckman (July 26, 1882 – February 22, 1968) was a Finnish
sport wrestler
who competed in the 1906 Summer Olympics
and in the 1908 Summer Olympics
.
He was born in Loviisa
in a family of farmer. He took Abitur
in Helsinki
1902. Inspired by circus wrestlers Weckman started to practice Greco-Roman wrestling and won his first Finnish championship in 1904 against Verner Järvinen
. In 1905 Weckman went to Germany University of Karlsruhe and won the unofficial World championship in Duisburg in the same year.
In 1906 he became the first Finnish Olympics winner against Austrian Rudolf Lindmayer, as he won the gold medal in the Greco-Roman middleweight class as well as the silver medal in the overall competition.
Two years later he won the gold medal in the Greco-Roman light heavyweight event in London Olympics
.
Weckman worked as engineer in Russia 1909–1917 and later in Suomen Kaapelitehdas Oy
or Finnish Cable Works (which in 1967 merged with two other companies to form Nokia Corporation
, the current telecommunications company), where he served as long time executive director until 1955. Weckman was awarded the prestigious Vuorineuvos
title for his long career in 1953. He died in Helsinki in 1968.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
sport wrestler
Amateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
who competed in the 1906 Summer Olympics
1906 Summer Olympics
The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee...
and in the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
.
He was born in Loviisa
Loviisa
Loviisa is a municipality and town of inhabitants on the southern coast of Finland. About 43 per cent of the population is Swedish-speaking.The municipality covers an area of of which is water...
in a family of farmer. He took Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
1902. Inspired by circus wrestlers Weckman started to practice Greco-Roman wrestling and won his first Finnish championship in 1904 against Verner Järvinen
Verner Järvinen
Venne "Verner" Järvinen was a Finnish athlete who competed mostly in the throwing events. A gold medalist in the Greek-style discus from the 1906 Intercalated Games, he went on to win a bronze in the same event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-Career:Originally one of Finland's leading wrestlers, he...
. In 1905 Weckman went to Germany University of Karlsruhe and won the unofficial World championship in Duisburg in the same year.
In 1906 he became the first Finnish Olympics winner against Austrian Rudolf Lindmayer, as he won the gold medal in the Greco-Roman middleweight class as well as the silver medal in the overall competition.
Two years later he won the gold medal in the Greco-Roman light heavyweight event in London Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
.
Weckman worked as engineer in Russia 1909–1917 and later in Suomen Kaapelitehdas Oy
Kaapelitehdas
Kaapelitehdas is a famous building in Ruoholahti, Helsinki, near the bridge to Lauttasaari....
or Finnish Cable Works (which in 1967 merged with two other companies to form Nokia Corporation
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
, the current telecommunications company), where he served as long time executive director until 1955. Weckman was awarded the prestigious Vuorineuvos
Vuorineuvos
Vuorineuvos is a Finnish honorary title granted by the President of Finland to leading industry figures. The title is honorary and has no responsibilities and no privileges. All Finnish titles are non-hereditary. The only title of equal rank is valtioneuvos.There is no official or established...
title for his long career in 1953. He died in Helsinki in 1968.
External links
- Profile at databaseOlympics.com