Jim Armstrong (wrestler) explained

Nickname:

Big Jim

Nationality:

Australian

Birth Date:

14 July 1917

Birth Place:

Albury, New South Wales

Module:

Child:

yes

Module2:

Position:	Prop
Club1:	South Sydney
Year1start:	1939
Year1end:	1947
Appearances1:	83
Tries1:	28
Goals1:	4
Fieldgoals1:	0
Points1:	92
Teama:	Australia
Yearastart:	1946
Appearancesa:	1
Triesa:	0
Goalsa:	0
Fieldgoalsa:	0
Pointsa:	0
Teamg:	NSW
Yeargstart:	1946
Appearancesg:	2
Triesg:	0
Goalsg:	0
Fieldgoalsg:	0
Pointsg:	0
Embed:	Yes
Source:	Rugby League Project

James Michael Armstrong (14 July 1917 - 8 July 1981) was a great Australian sport wrestler and rugby league player. In wrestling, he won a bronze medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics, a gold medal at the 1950 British Empire Games and a bronze medal at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. He represented South Sydney, New South Wales and Australia in a nine-year top-level rugby league career. Armstrong served as an officer in the New South Wales Police Force, retiring at the rank of inspector.

Early life

He was born in Albury, New South Wales, and was educated in Junee and Wagga Wagga. He joined the New South Wales Police Force at the age of 20.^[1]

Rugby league career

Armstrong played for Waratahs in Wagga Wagga before moving to Sydney with the police force. In Sydney, Armstrong joined South Sydney, where he made his first grade debut in 1939.^[2] ^[3]

Armstrong was selected to play for Australia against Great Britain as a front row forward in the third and deciding Ashes test in 1946, becoming Kangaroo No. 233.^[4]

Wrestling career

He won a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling, heavyweight class, at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.^[5] ^[6]

At the 1950 British Empire Games Armstrong won the heavyweight wrestling gold medal.^[7]

At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Armstrong won the light heavyweight wrestling bronze medal.

Notes and References

News: Junee's Effort to Send Wrestling Champion to Olympic Games . . New South Wales, Australia . 2 April 1948 . 29 June 2023 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
News: Waratahs lose Armstrong . . New South Wales, Australia . 7 July 1938 . 29 June 2023 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
News: Former Waratah forward – Great success in Sydney. . New South Wales, Australia . 31 May 1939 . 29 June 2023 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
Web site: Australian Kangaroos Player Register . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014505/http://rugbyleague2013.nrl.com/PDF/Australian_Players_Register.pdf . 3 December 2013 . 1 December 2013 . 2013 Annual Report . National Rugby League.
Web site: Jim Armstrong . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120130050129/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ar/jim-armstrong-1.html . 30 January 2012 . 13 February 2012 . Sports Reference.
News: 1981-07-09 . Rugby league . 27 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 2023-06-29.
News: 1981-07-09 . Olympian and father figure . 12 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 2023-06-29.