Kelpo Gröndahl

Kelpo Olavi Grondahl ( born March 28, 1920 in Pori, † August 2, 1994 ) was a Finnish wrestler.

Career

Grondahl began as a teenager in 1932 with the rings. He was a member of the club Ringer Reposaaren Kunto, who belonged to the Finnish Workers Sports Association and to whom he remained loyal throughout his career. He wrestled primarily in Greco- Roman style. He participated at Finnish Championships since 1940. Finnish Champion, he was first in 1943. He won the title at light heavyweight, the weight class in which he constantly started ( up to 87 kg body weight). His international career could begin only in 1947 Kelpo because of the 2nd World War. His greatest achievement was the Olympic gold medal in 1952 in Helsinki. After 1955, he ended his international career Ringer, but remained active for the club until 1960.

After his wrestler career of working as a port warden Grondahl began a career as a politician. He was a deputy in the city council of Pori and 1962-1970 Finnish member of parliament for the leftist SKDL. In the presidential elections in 1956, 1962 and 1968 he was elector.

He married Sylvia Anja Nieminen since 1945.

Sporting successes

International career

(OS = Olympic Games, WM = World Championship, European Championship EM =, GR = Greco-Roman style, Hs = -heavyweight)

Main countries fighting

Finnish Championships

Kelpo Grondahl won the Finnish championship in Hs, GR in the years 1943, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954 and 1955, in free style 1949 and 1951. Champion of workers' sports association TUL in two styles, he was a total seventeen.

Results in the championships of the Finnish Association Ringer:

Results in the championships of the Workers Sports Federation TUL: