Jan Karlsson (wrestler)
January Egon Karlsson (* November 15, 1945 in Trollhättan ) is a former Swedish wrestler. He was two-time medalist at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972 and 1975 European champion in free style and Greco-Roman wrestling in the welterweight division.
Career
January Karlsson grew up in Trollhättan and started at the local " Atletklubb " with the rings. It was in this club at a great wrestler in two styles, free style and Greco-Roman. Style is formed. In 1965, January was the first time Swedish champion in free style. Overall, in January won no less than 28 Swedish championship title in his career.
Jan, the fireman was in Trollhättan, began in 1965 with his international career Ringer. At the World Championships this year in free style in Manchester, he finished 10th in the lightweight. But in January revealed his great disposition as early as next year, when he with a 4th place only just missed out on a medal at the European Championships in Karlsruhe in free style at lightweight. He was defeated in this tournament, only the outstanding Soviet masters Zarbeg Beriaschwili.
His first medal at an international championship won Jan decides at the European Championships 1967 in Istanbul in the free style in a lightweight. He brought there the feat among others also to defeat the experienced Bulgarian world champion Enju Valtschew - Dimow and to occupy the second place after a defeat against Zarbeg Beriaschwili.
Also In 1968 Jan at the European Championships in Skopje a medal. He won there three fights and was defeated by Yuri Gusow from the USSR and against Klaus rust from the Federal Republic of Germany. Very disappointing ran for then the Olympic Games in Mexico City, because he was defeated in his first two fights against Enju Valtschew - Dimow and against Wayne Wells from the U.S. each on points and finished only 17th place.
In the years 1969 and 1970, but in January won the European Championships again two medals. For the first time, he succeeded in doing in 1969 in Modena a medal in Greco-Roman. Style to win in the welterweight division as he won the 1970 medal in free style and it also won over the West German champion Adolf Seger.
Quite excellent cut from January Karlsson at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. He won the silver medal in the first free style at welterweight. He won it again about Adolf Seger, who never got along with the upright ring style by Jan Karlsson, but lost on the other hand, inter alia, against Wolfgang Nitschke from the GDR. He also lost against the Bulgarians Jantscho Pavlov and therefore did not come to a final battle against the Americans Wayne Wells, who won the gold medal. Although January Karsson had to contest six tough fights in the freestyle tournament, he started in the Graeco-Roman. Tournament, scoring four wins and retired after losing to Ivan Kolev of Bulgaria in the fifth battle by winning the bronze medal from the tournament.
In 1973, in January confirmed the successes of 1972, because he won at the World Championships in Tehran again medals in two styles. In Greco-Roman. Style, he was charged with four wins, one draw and one defeat against Ivan Kolev vice-world champion in free style and it was enough for him to win the bronze medal.
The year 1974 was less successful for Jan Karlsson. He was able to win any medals at the World or European Championships. The more sensational was his victory in the European Championship 1975 in Ludwigshafen in Greco-Roman. Style in the welterweight division. He was successful in seven battles and defeated by Ivan Kolev, Vítězslav Macha from Czechoslovakia and Klaus -Peter Goepfert from the DDR world-class athletes.
After this great success in January ranking yet in some other international championships, including the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, but he could not achieve such great success over and placed between the tiers 7 and 10
Interestingly, the results of the struggles of Jan Karlsson scored against German opponents at these championships. Against Adolf Seger he wrestled three times and won all three fights, against Wolfgang Nitschke from Leipzig, he lost both fights that he played against him and also against Fred Hempel happened to him that way. Against Klaus -Peter Goepfert from Zella- Mehlis in January won two fights and lost one. Against Klaus rust from Witten, he played a fight he lost.
Since the end of his international career Ringer after the 1976 Olympic Games in January Karlsson has worked as a wrestler trainer. At the time of the trained wrestler Club " BK Snar " floor.
International success
(OS = Olympic Games, WM = World Championship, European Championship EM =, F = free style, GR = Greek and Roman. Style, Le = Lightweight, We = welterweight, then up to 70 kg and 74 kg body weight)