Johannes Kotkas
Encyclopedia
Johannes Kotkas was an Estonia
n amateur wrestler
who won the gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics
for the Soviet Union
.
Kotkas was born in Tartu
. He won the gold medal at the 1938, 1939 and 1947 European Championship. At the 1953 World Championship
Kotkas won the silver medal
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n amateur 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 won the gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
for the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Kotkas was born in Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
. He won the gold medal at the 1938, 1939 and 1947 European Championship. At the 1953 World Championship
1953 FILA Wrestling World Championships
The 1953 World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship were held in Naples, Italy.-Medal table:-Greco-Roman:-See also:List of World and Olympic Champions in men's freestyle wrestlingList of World and Olympic Champions in Greco-Roman wrestling...
Kotkas won the silver medal