Charles Ericksen

Charles F. Ericksen ( born June 20, 1875 as Karl Fredrik Eriksen in Tønsberg, Norway, † February 24, 1916 in New York City, New York, United States) was a Norwegian wrestler wrestling of the Olympic Summer Games 1904 in St. Louis, Missouri represented the United States and in the welterweight class (up to 158 lb / 71.67 kg ) gold medal in front of William " Bill" Beckman (Silver) and Jerry Winholtz ( Bronze) won.

It was only in 2012 Norwegian historian came out that Hansen was until March 22, 1905 listed as alien, so as permanently established in the United States foreigners and only at that time received U.S. citizenship. Therefore, these same historians opined the gold medal, which was scored for the United States, later to be considered for Norway, as the naturalization took place after the Olympics.

Life and career

Eriksen was born in 1875 under the name Norwegian Karl Fredrik Eriksen in Tønsberg, the capital of the second smallest province after Oslo Norway, Vestfold. Finally, at the age of 14, he came by boat to New York City, where he einreiste on July 18, 1889. Soon after his arrival in New York he joined the Norwegier gymnastics club in the then second largest borough of Brooklyn where he represented at the Olympic Games in 1904. In the U.S., he put his birth name soon after, and changed his name from Charles Ericksen; with this name he was also naturalized in 1905. In the Summer Olympics 1904 in St. Louis, he was able to prevail in a field of ten athletes in his weight class and win the gold medal. Although there was a tie for the quarterfinals against Jerry Winholtz, the decision was made to victory on Ericksen. After he had defeated in the semi-final battle William Hennessy after a time of 2:58 minutes, waiting for the final of the fighting since the first round, William " Bill" Beckman. As after 15:00 minutes still decided a winner, the decision was made again into a self-sacrificing fighting Norwegian, who thus secured the gold medal.

Even in the years after that Ericksen was active as a wrestler, while mainly in New York City and its local native Brooklyn. Almost exactly to the day, two years after his Olympic victory was elected to the wrestling committee of the AAU, where he was henceforth active in administrative areas. In the Summer Olympics 1912 in Stockholm, the naturalized Ericksen resigned as coach of the Norwegian Athletics Department in appearance; he has held since 1911 precisely this position. After the Olympic Games, where the Norwegians reached a total of ten medals ( 3x gold, 2 silver and bronze 5x ), the gold medalist of 1904 returned to New York. There he devoted himself how. Shortly after the Olympic Games in 1904, mainly sports administrative activities and was until his death president of the Scandinavian - American Athletic League, and member of the Amateur Athletic Union Beginning in May 1915 rose Charles Ericksen on as Chairman of the wrestling committee of the AAU and was also active in this office until his death.

At the age of 40 years, Charles Ericksen died on 24 February 1916 in Brooklyn, where he lived until his death. According to other sources Ericksen died a day earlier, on February 23. The funeral of the last living in the Hicks Street on New York Harbor Ex - wrestler took place only shortly after his death on 26 February 1916. As it became known on the day of his burial, died of carbon monoxide poisoning Ericksen, caused by a gas leak in his apartment.

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