Kustaa Pihlajamäki Explained

Kustaa Pihlajamäki
Height:169 cm
Weight:56–66 kg
Birth Date:7 April 1902
Birth Place:Nurmo, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
Death Place:Helsinki, Finland
Sport:Wrestling
Club:HKV, Helsinki
Helsingin Poliisi-Voimailijat, Helsinki
Show-Medals:yes

Kustaa Kustaanpoika Pihlajamäki (7 April 1902 – 10 February 1944) was a Finnish wrestler. He competed in freestyle wrestling at the 1924, 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics and won two gold and one silver medal. Between 1930 and 1943 he won nine European and 28 national titles in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling.

Pihlajamäki worked as a policeman in Helsinki from 1925 to 1944, when he died during a Soviet bombing raid. A statue in his honor was installed in Helsinki in 1956, and in 2005 he became the first Finnish wrestler to be inducted into the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame. His brothers Arvi and Paavo were also national champions in wrestling, and his cousin Hermanni was an Olympic champion.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kustaa Pihlajamäki . Olympedia . 17 December 2021.