Frank Andersson Explained
Frank Öivind Stefan Andersson (9 May 1956 – 9 September 2018) was a Swedish amateur wrestler and entertainer. He started in amateur wrestling, winning several world championship gold medals as well as a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He later became a professional wrestler with mixed success. He was also a television personality appearing on several Swedish reality and game shows.
Amateur wrestling career
Frank Andersson's amateur wrestling career included gold medals at the 1973 and 1975 Junior World Championships and as he got older he wrestled at a number of Greco-Roman wrestling World Championships over the years.[3] In 1977, 1979 and 1982 he won the gold medal in the 90kg (200lb) division.[3] He also took the silver medal in 1978 and 1981. The pinnacle of his amateur wrestling career came in 1984 at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles where he won a bronze medal in the 90 kg weight division.[4] In addition to his in ring achievements, Andersson was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1977.[5] He was inducted in the Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006.[6]
Professional wrestling career
Andersson was trained for his professional career by Brad Rheingans, a former Olympian as well, and made his debut on 3 May 1991 for the American Wrestling Association, defeating Randy Thornton, who also debuted.[7] Within months, he went to Japan, wrestling for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) teaming with Rheingans.[8]
On April 8, 1993, he worked one night only for the WWE when he defeated Red Tyler in Paris, France at a European Tour show.
In 1994, he signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), based in Atlanta.[9] Andersson would win upset victories over Booker T., Stevie Ray and Alex Wright. He retired in 1995.[10]
Andersson made his comeback in 2014 for STHLM, a promotion based in Stockholm, Sweden. Teaming with Jim Duggan in a tag match. He won the STHLM title on 6 September when he defeated Ken Malmsteen in the main event.[11]
Media career
He was a participant on Let's Dance 2011, the Swedish version of Strictly Come Dancing / Dancing with the Stars, where he finished second.[12] [13]
In his youth Andersson recorded the music single "Frank's Disco", the song contains music and Andersson being interviewed in the background.[14]
Andersson also appeared in the film Göta Kanal in 1981.[15] He participated as a celebrity contestant on Expedition Robinson V.I.P.[16] He also appeared on the seventh season of Mästarnas mästare; broadcast on SVT, he was the first to be eliminated.[17]
Personal life
Andersson was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 2010.[18]
Death
In late August 2018, Andersson was admitted to hospital with heart problems.[19] On 6 September, Andersson went through surgery. A few days later, he developed complications, and on 9 September 2018, he died at the age of 62.[19] [20] [21] [22]
Championships and accomplishments
Notes and References
- Web site: Frank Andersson . Cagematch.net . 7 July 2013 . 7 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160407161740/http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=4658&name=Frank+Andersson . live .
- Web site: Frank Andersson. WrestlingData.com. 10 September 2018. 11 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044524/https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=7308&bild=0. live.
- News: "K*ken måste ju ha sitt" – och andra Frank Andersson-klassiker. Expressen. 9 May 2016 . 9 September 2018. sv. 9 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222149/https://www.expressen.se/sport/frank-andersson-60-ar--har-ar-handelserna-vi-minns/. live.
- Web site: All-Olympic results since 1896 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190326/http://www.olympic.org/en/content/All-Olympic-results-since-1896/?AthleteName=Andersson&Category=343488&Games=&Sport=1314115&Event=&MenGender=false&WomenGender=false&MixedGender=false&TeamClassification=false&IndividualClassification=false&Continent=&Country=&GoldMedal=false&SilverMedal=false&BronzeMedal=true&WorldRecord=false&OlympicRecord=false&TargetResults=true . dead . 3 March 2016 . International Olympic Committee . 28 July 1984 . 23 January 2010.
- News: Bragdmedaljörer genom tiderna "Feat medals of all time" . Svenska Dagbladet . 6 December 2005 . sv . 21 January 2010 . 13 December 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091213191026/http://www.svd.se/sportspel/bragdguldet/bragdmedaljorer-genom-tiderna_485089.svd . live.
- Web site: Frank Andersson invald i Hall of Fame. 27 September 2006. SVT Sport. 9 September 2018. sv. 9 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222013/https://www.svt.se/sport/artikel/frank-andersson-invald-i-hall-of-fame. live.
- Web site: Frank Andersson. WrestlingData.com. 10 September 2018. 11 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044540/https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=7308&bild=0&details=7&kampfland=3&jahr=1991. live.
- Web site: Frank Andersson. Online World of Wrestling. 9 September 2018. 9 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222038/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/f/frank-andersson/. dead.
- Frank Andersson's contract signing with Eric Bischoff . https://web.archive.org/web/20151221000321/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6OYdlfxVmU. dead. 21 December 2015. WCW (Swedish). 9 September 2018. YouTube.
- Web site: Hon blev blåst av OS-stjärnan - Kvällsposten. Kvällsposten. 28 August 2010 . 9 September 2018. 10 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180910014548/https://www.expressen.se/kvallsposten/hon-blev-blast-av-os-stjarnan/. live.
- Web site: STHLM Return Of The King « Events Database. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch.net. 9 September 2018. 25 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160425042949/http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=111806. live.
- Web site: Frank Andersson: "Det känns som en seger" - Let's dance. TV4. 9 September 2018. sv. 9 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180909221830/https://www.tv4.se/lets-dance/artiklar/frank-andersson-det-k%C3%A4nns-som-en-seger-4fbfea3004bf725194009689. live.
- Web site: Frank Andersson är död. 9 September 2018. Göteborgs-Posten. 9 September 2018. 9 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222057/http://www.gp.se/sport/frank-andersson-%C3%A4r-d%C3%B6d-1.8155414. live.
- Frank Andersson Ett herrans med Fredrik och Filip, Kanal 5. 13 April 2006.
- Web site: Göta Kanal eller Vem drog ur proppen? (1981). Svensk Filmdatabas. 9 September 2018. sv. 9 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222150/http://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/sv/item/?type=film&itemid=5579. live.
- Web site: De är med i nya "Robinson VIP". Aftonbladet. 10 July 2004 . 9 September 2018. sv. 9 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222122/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/tv/a/yv6dWx/de-ar-med-i-nya-robinson-vip. live.
- Web site: Frank fick lämna "Mästarnas mästare": Han var för sjuk. Aftonbladet. 3 May 2015 . 9 September 2018. sv. 7 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107003248/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/tv/article20731110.ab. live.
- News: Prage . Ninna . Lundberg . Zandra . 28 January 2011 . Frank har adhd . sv . . 10 April 2019 . 10 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190410201048/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/tv/letsdance/article12522466.ab . live .
- Web site: Frank Andersson är död - blev 62 år gammal. Aftonbladet. 9 September 2018 . 9 September 2018. sv. 14 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180914021956/https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/a/A2wbXz/frank-andersson-dod. live.
- News: Frank Andersson har avlidit. Amanda. Dahl. Martin. Fransson. 9 September 2018. Dagens Nyheter. 9 September 2018. sv. 14 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230314161530/https://www.dn.se/sport/frank-andersson-har-avlidit/. live.
- Web site: Frank Andersson - Swedish professional wrestler, died on Sunday September 9th 2018 at age 62. Dead People. 9 September 2018. 10 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180910014840/https://www.dead-people.com/Frank-Andersson. live.
- News: Frank Andersson är död. Sveriges Radio. 9 September 2018. 9 September 2018. sv. 10 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180910120512/https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=83&artikel=7039218. live.
- Web site: Frank Andersson Ny Mästare i STHLM W!. STHLM. 9 September 2018. sv. 9 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222136/http://sthlmw.blogspot.com/2014/09/frank-andersson-ny-mastere-i-sthlm-w.html. live.
- Web site: Legendaren Frank Andersson på sjukhus – nu tvingas han till akut operation. 5 September 2018. Sportbibeln. 9 September 2018. sv. 9 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180909221924/https://www.sportbibeln.se/sport/legendaren-frank-andersson-pa-sjukhus-nu-tvingas-han-till-akut-operation/. live.
- Web site: Awards « Frank Andersson « Wrestlers Database. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch.net. 9 September 2018. 7 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407143801/http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=4658&page=12. live.
- Web site: Pro Wrestling Illustrated. pwi-online.com. 9 September 2018. 10 September 2012. https://archive.today/20120910163257/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/wrestlingframe.html. dead.