Risto Björlin
Risto Uolevi Björlin ( born December 9, 1944 in Vaasa ) is a Finnish former wrestler and bronze medalist at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.
Career
Risto Björlin began in 1954 at the age of 10 years with the rings. He became a member of the Finnish Workers Sports Federation ( TUL) belonging to the Association Vasaan Toverit. He grew to become an outstanding wrestler in the Greco-Roman. Style. In 1962 he drew attention to himself by a 2nd place in the flyweight at the Finnish Championships behind Raimo Salimäki. After this success, he moved to Vasaan Voimat - Veikot ( VVV ), a club that belonged to the general Finnish Wrestling Federation. In the course of his career Risto joined the police and therefore changed once his club, he went to Kuortaneen Kunto.
At his first appearance at an international championship he came back in 1963 at the World Championships in Helsingborg. With two wins, including one over the German champions Rolf Lacour from Köllerbach and two defeats, he came on the 8th Place.
By 1976, Risto then started regularly at World and European Championships and was also at the Olympic Games in 1964, 1968 and 1972 while with. He wrestled always in the Greek -Roman style, first flyweight, but even from 1966 bantamweight. He placed almost always among the ten best wrestlers of his weight class, but failed mostly on the absolute Spitzenkönnern as Armais Sajadow from the USSR, Fritz rod from Germany, Ion Baciu from Romania, Hans -Jürgen Veil from the FRG and János Varga from Hungary. Nevertheless, he succeeded by his perseverance but to come to greater success.
In 1968 he occupied at the European Championships in Västerås with five wins and only one defeat against János Varga 3rd place. In 1969 he was in Modena bantamweight champions do, however, benefited from this championship boycott by the Eastern European associations, thus came about because the Italian government did not allow the hoisting of the GDR flag in the function room.
At the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972 Risto won the bronze medal in the bantamweight, where he scored also notable victories over David Hazewinkel from the United States and to Chun -Young from North Korea.
Finally, it was also once vice- European champion Risto 1974 in Madrid. Only the Soviet athletes Farhat Mustafin could defeat him in this championship. Ristos goal was to start again in Montreal at the Olympic Games in 1976. This goal, however, he did not reach, because in Finland him an enormously strong competitor was grown in Pertti Ukkola who blocked his way to these games. How good was Ukkola, then showed up in Montreal, as this was Olympic champion.
Risto Björlin then ended his international career wrestler, but was afterwards for many years to his club as a coach in the junior area.
Achievements
International success
(OS = Olympic Games, WM = World Championship, European Championship EM =, GR = Greek and Roman. Styles, Fl = flyweight, bantamweight Ba = )
Finnish Championships
Risto Björlin was Finnish champion in 1963 at flyweight and bantamweight in 1970 and 1976. To this end, he won six championships and Vice occupied once the third place.
Championships in association TUL:
Championships generally Wrestling Federation: