Mikko Huhtala

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Mikko Kustaa Huhtala (born March 30, 1952 in Lapua ) is a former Finnish wrestler and winner of the bronze medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow in the Greco-Roman style welterweight.

Career

Mikko Huhtala grew up in Lapua and began as a seven year old boy at the local club Ringer "Virkia" with the rings . He developed into an excellent wrestler in the Greco-Roman style, which is primarily thanks to the trainer Eero Nikkari. Mikko achieved his first major success on the international wrestling mat in 1970 when he became Vice-Junior European Champion in the class up to 65 kg body weight in Huskvarna . In Finland , Mikko faced stiff competition in the early 1970s. Eero Tapio and Matti Laakso were masters of light and welterweight during this time. Mikko won his first medal at Finnish championships in 1974 when he finished 2nd in the welterweight division. The first Finnish championship he won again in 1976 in welterweight.

In 1974, Mikko Huhtala celebrated his first success in an international championship among seniors. In Rome he became "CISM" world welterweight champion. All military athletes of the western states were organized in the "CISM" sports association. The first participation in a European Championship was for Mikko at the European Championship in 1976 in Leningrad , where he took a good 6th place. Things went even better for him at the Olympic Games in Montreal that year . Mikko won three fights here and just barely missed a medal with 4th place, although he lost in the decisive fight for this medal against Karl-Heinz Helbing from Mainz .

From 1977 to 1979, Mikko Huhtala competed regularly in the World and European Championships. He always fought well and was close to winning a medal several times, but he never succeeded. The best results of those years were a 5th place at the 1978 European Championships in Oslo , a 6th place at the 1979 European Championships in Bucharest , where he achieved a remarkable victory over the Hungarian world champion Ferenc Kocsis and seventh places at the 1977 World Championships in Gothenburg and 1978 in Mexico City .

The most successful year of his career for Mikko was 1980. First he was vice European champion at the European championship in Prievidza and then he won the bronze medal in the welterweight division at the Olympic Games in Moscow .

In 1981, Mikko won a world championship medal when he was runner-up behind Alexander Kudrjawzew from the USSR in Oslo , defeating Roger Tallroth from Sweden and again Fernec Kocsis, who also became Olympic champion in 1980, on the way .

After 1981, Mikko Huhtala ended his international wrestling career. He concentrated on his professional training and is now a development engineer.

International success

(OS = Olympic Games, WM = World Championship, EM = European Championship, GR = Greco-Roman style, Le = lightweight, We = welterweight, Mi = middleweight, then up to 68 kg, 74 kg or 82 kg body weight)

Finnish championships

  • 1974, 2nd place, GR, We, behind Veikko Lavonen u. before Juhani Hakola,
  • 1975, 3rd place, GR, We, behind Juhani Hakola u. Veikko Lavonen,
  • 1976, 1st place, GR, We, ahead of Ersko Hindikka u. Markku Yli-Isotalo ,
  • 1977, 1st place, GR, We, ahead of Olavi Vainio u. Juhani Jaatinen,
  • 1978, 1st place, GR, We, before Tatu Kangas u. Matti Övermark,
  • 1979, 1st place, GR, Wed, ahead of Markku Latvala u. Juhani Jaatinen,
  • 1980, 1st place, GR, We, ahead of Timo Lehto u. Tatu Kangas,
  • 1981, 3rd place, GR, Wed, behind Jarmo Övermark u. Jari Salomäki,
  • 1982, 2nd place, GR, Wed, behind Jarmo Övermark u. before Jari Salomäki

literature

  • Trade journals Athletics from 1970 to 1975 and Der Ringer from 1976 to 198

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Huhtala, Mikko
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Huhtala, Mikko Kustaa
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Finnish wrestler
DATE OF BIRTH March 30, 1952
PLACE OF BIRTH Lapua