Franz Berger (wrestler)

Franz Berger (born 24 January 1940 in Wals, Salzburg Country, † January 8, 2012 same place ) was an Austrian wrestler. With 36 league titles he still holds the Austrian record and is equipped with four participations in the Olympic Games, five appearances at the World Championships and won a bronze medal at the European Championships to date most successful wrestler from Austria.

Career

Franz Berger began his career with 12 years of lack of alternatives in the city club Salzburger AK 1914. For training he went together with his younger brother Gustav in the city of Salzburg and returned after camaraderie was still being capitalized and the wrestlers were sitting together after a workout yet, often late after midnight from the Nonntal back whale back. After the SAK 1914 in 1952 dissolved the wrestler and his older brother Matthias section called the Athletic Club whale to life in the same year, the Berger brothers changed on 10 August 1952, their newly established home club. Gustav Berger won 19 Austrian Championship titles in his career, Francis was charged with 36 league titles and four Olympic and five World Cup participations to Austria's most successful wrestlers ever.

The Wrestling World Championships in 1966, he finished third in freestyle ( Welter ) the fifth and in the Greek- Rom. Style ( Welter ) eighth. In 1967 he came fourth ( Greek- Rom.; Welter ) at the European Championships. In 1970 he fought in East Berlin as a pure amateur against the then dominant wrestler from Eastern Europe, who were mostly military athletes, sensational the bronze medal. As an Olympian Walser won mostly good places, but could never place in the medals themselves. At the Games in Rome in 1960 occupied the 11th place while not it past 1964 in Tokyo on the first round. His best result reached Franz Berger in Mexico City in 1968 with the seventh rank. In his last at the Olympics in Munich in 1972, he was taken with a precipitated overnight judgment to the seemingly secured advancement and thus binned only to 10th place

As he in his weight class for years no serious competitors had in Austria - he lost only once surprising in eight years in the state final against Kaspar Steinberger from Vigaun - chose Berger the way to neighboring countries and fought eight years in the then German Ringer stronghold Bad Reichenhall. Overall, the Walser, who was successful in two styles, over 20 years on the mat before he ended his career as a player was 1978. His last fight he fought with 38 years in the jersey of AC Bad Reichenhall. After retiring from active competition Berger worked for 17 years as a trainer and also celebrated in this function with the AC Wals several team title.

Private

Franz Berger learned the trade of brewer and Melzer's, but then worked for 37 years as head of the Construction Law Office of Wals.

Last Berger lived as a pensioner in the community Wals and missed as a spectator and an honorary member of the AC Wals still no clash of Walser season. His grandson Franz Ronacher is one of the strongest athletes in Austria and belongs to date ( 2008) the national squad at.

Achievements

Internationally

  • 4 participations in the Olympic Games: 1960 ( 11th place ), 1964 ( first round ), 1968 (7th place ), 1972 (10th place ).
  • 5 participations at World Championships: 1966 ( fifth place freestyle, Welter ) and 8th (. Griech. - Rom, Welter )
  • 4 participations in European Championships: 1966 ( 8th place, Freestyle ), 1967 (4th place, Greek- Rom. ), 1968 ( 8th Place, Greek- Rom. ), 1970 (3rd place, Greek- Rom. )

National

  • 27 x Austrian Champion
  • 6 x Austrian Junior Champion
  • 3 x Austrian Junior Champion
  • 14 x Austrian team champion (AC Wals )
  • 1 x German team champion (AC Bad Reichenhall )
Summer Olympic Games 1966 World Wrestling Championships Freestyle wrestling 1960 Summer Olympics 1964 Summer Olympics Weight class (boxing) Brewing German champions
348406
de