Tauno Kovanen

Tauno Into Kovanen ( born June 20, 1917 in Kuru, Pirkanmaa, † February 9, 1986 in Lahti ) was a Finnish wrestler. He won a bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in the heavyweight division at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.

Career

Tauno Kovanen, who belonged to the Sports Club Lahti Ahkera, launched in the heavyweight division, weighed in at a size of 1.82 meters, but "only" about 90 kg, with which he was barely in this weight class. He was an outspoken late starter, because only in 1950, when he was already 33 years old, he achieved his first medal win at a Finnish championship. By the year 1954, he then reached a total of eight medals gains in Finnish Championships in two styles, but he could never be Finnish champion. However, he managed to qualify in 1952 for participation in the Olympic Games in Helsinki in Greco- Roman style.

In Helsinki he came in the heavyweight division to victories over Suli Alexandru, Romania, Adolfo Ramirez, Argentina and Willi Waltner, Germany. Then he lost to John Kotkas, Soviet Union and Josef Růžička, Czechoslovakia and thus won an Olympic bronze medal.

This was his only start at an international championship.

International success

Finnish Championships

Notes

  • OS = Olympic Games
  • GR = Greco-Roman style, F = free style
  • Heavyweight, then over 87 kg body weight

Swell

  • Journal Athletics
  • Documentation of International Wrestling Championships FILA, 1976
  • Website " www.tulpaini.fi "
Kuru, Finland Finland Wrestling at the 1952 Summer Olympics Weight class (boxing) Johannes Kotkas
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