Tauno Kovanen

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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 the Greco-Roman style in the heavyweight division at the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952 .

Career

Tauno Kovanen, who belonged to the Lahden Ahkera sports club , started in the heavyweight division, but with a height of 1.82 meters he weighed "only" about 90 kg, which means he was barely in this weight class. He was a decided late starter because it wasn't until 1950, when he was already 33 years old, that he won his first medal at a Finnish championship. By 1954 he achieved a total of eight medal wins at Finnish championships in both styles, but he could never become Finnish champion. However, he managed to qualify for participation in the Olympic Games in Helsinki in Greco-Roman style in 1952 .

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

This start was his only one at an international championship.

International success

year space competition Weight class style Results
1952 bronze OS in Helsinki Heavy GR after victories over Alexandru Șuli , Romania , Adolfo Ramirez, Argentina and Willi Waltner , Germany and defeats against Johannes Kotkas , Soviet Union and Josef Růžička , Czechoslovakia

Finnish championships

year space Weight class style Results
1950 2. Heavy F. behind Pauli Riihimäki , in front of Kaino Mäkelä
1951 3. Heavy F. behind Pauli Riihimäki and Jaako Virta
1951 3. Heavy GR behind Taisto Kangasniemi and Jaako Virta
1952 2. Heavy GR behind Kaino Mäkelä, in front of Taisto Kangasniemi
1952 3. Heavy F. behind Pauli Riihimäki and Jaako Virta
1953 2. Heavy F. behind Taisto Kangasniemi, in front of Aale Siltanen
1953 3. Heavy GR behind Taisto Kangasniemi, in front of Kaino Mäkelä
1954 3. Heavy GR behind Jaako Virta and Kaino Mäkelä

Explanations

  • OS = Olympic Games
  • GR = Greco-Roman style, F = free style
  • Heavy weight, at that time over 87 kg body weight

swell

  • Athletics magazine
  • Documentation of FILA's International Wrestling Championships, 1976
  • Website "www.tulpaini.fi"

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Kovanen, Tauno
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kovanen, Tauno Into
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Finnish wrestler
DATE OF BIRTH June 20, 1917
PLACE OF BIRTH Kuru (Finland)
DATE OF DEATH February 9, 1986
Place of death Lahti