Anton Koolmann
| Personal information | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
11 September 1899 Kasispea, Estonia | ||||||||||
| Died |
29 June 1953 (aged 53) Wellington, New Zealand | ||||||||||
Medal record
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Anton Koolmann (11 September 1899 – 29 June 1953) was a wrestler and coach from Kuusalu Parish, Estonia who took part at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.[1]
Career
1924 after winning Estonian Greco-Roman wrestling championships he participated at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France:
Men's Greco-Roman bantamweight (-58 kg)
- First round – defeated French champion Georges Appruzeze
- Second round – lost to 1932 Summer Olympics champion Giovanni Gozzi
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- Third round – lost to 1921 world champion and later
- First round – defeated French champion Georges Appruzeze
Men's freestyle featherweight (-61 kg)
- 1/8 Final round – lost to later
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- Tournament to 2nd place - First round – lost to later
- 1/8 Final round – lost to later
After Olympics he didn't return to home, but arrived, according to The Estonian Archives in Australia (EAA), 16 February 1925 from Campbeltown to Adelaide, Australia on the four-masted Barque "Carthpool" (Sister ship of Lawhill).
In Australia within the first fortnight of his career as a professional wrestler Koolmann won in seven successive championship matches, two state championships, three Victorian and two Australasian amateur championships.[2] He won Australian middleweight championstitle from Hughie Whitman.[3]
15 October 1928 he moved to New Zealand and got citizenship in 1933.
1934 he wrestled against former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Gus "The Goat" Sonnenberg.
Late 30's, he trained many New Zealand wrestling champions in his Koolman's Gym in Wellington. Among them Ernie "Kiwi" Kingston and from 1951 Maori professional heavyweight wrestler Keita Meretana of Wairoa.
He died suddenly in his home at age 53 in Wellington, New Zealand.
Sport achievements
| Year | Tournament | Venue | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Estonian National Championships | Tallinn, Estonia | 1st | Greco-Roman wrestling / -57 kg |
| 1924 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 10th | Men's freestyle featherweight -61 kg |
| 1924 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 13-16th | Men's Greco-Roman bantamweight -58 kg |
References
- Kuningas, Tiit; Tiit Lääne (2005). Olümpiamängude ajalugu II, suvemängud 1920-1944 (en: History of the Olympic Games II Summer Games 1920-1944) (in Estonian). Tallinn: Maalehe Raamat. ISBN 9985-64-255-4.
- A little piece of San Francisco in Wellington! - former Koolman's Wrestling Gym in 171 Cuba Street, Wellington