Frank Lewis (wrestler)

Frank Wiatt Lewis ( wrestler) ( born June 12, 1912 in Coleman (Texas ); † August 16, 1998 in Stillwater (Oklahoma) ) was an American wrestler. It was 1936 Olympic champion in free style at welterweight.

Career

Frank Lewis began as a teenager in high school in Cushing (Oklahoma ) with the rings. He pursued at this time but also other sports. After his high school days, he attended Oklahoma State University and held it there seen sporting the same way. It was not until 1933 he decided to concentrate on wrestling. He was active in free style, because it was wrestled to the U.S. universities only in this style.

As early as 1934, zeitigten the first successes in the struggle. He finished this year behind Ben Bishop at the NCAA Championships ( U.S. students Championships ) welterweight 2nd place. In 1935, he won then welterweight this item before Howard McGrath and Joe Kalpin. He was also in 1935 also AAU Champion ( American Champion). In 1936, he prevailed at the U.S. Olympic excretion ( Trials ) welterweight against Walter Jacob and was nominated for the Olympic Games in Berlin.

At the Olympic Games in Berlin scored Frank Lewis shoulder victory over Julien Beke from Belgium, Joseph Schleimer from Canada and Hüseyin Ercetin from Turkey. In his fourth fight he suffered a shoulder defeat by Thure Andersson from Sweden, the European vice-champion of 1934. In his last fight he came to another shoulder victory over fear Willy from Switzerland. He had so 3 wrong points. The Olympic victory Frank Lewis has ultimately owe the German Josef pair, because this shouldered in his second fight Thure Andersson. But few attain to this point only two victories, he also suffered in the struggle against French former European champion Jean Jourlin one point defeat, so he left early because he had reached 5 failed points. Andersson was in the final four points of failure, because he was "only" come in addition to the loss to pair against Jean Jourlin to a points victory. It was therefore with 4 faulty points at the end of the tournament slower by a failure point because as Frank Lewis, who thus won the gold medal, while Ture Andersson had to settle for the silver medal.

At other international championships Frank Lewis did not participate ( World Championships were at that time not yet performed). He finished after his Olympic victory Ringer his career.

Frank Lewis finished his studies and then worked as a businessman and rancher in Tulsa. He was married and had two sons and two daughters.

International success

National success

Notes

• All competitions in free style
• OS = Olympic Games
• NCAA = American Student Sports Federation
• AAU = Amateur Athlete Union

Swell

• Journal Athletics
• Documentation of International Wrestling Championships FILA, 1976
• Website of Oklahoma State University
• Website of the U.S. Ringer Association ( www.themat.com )