Willi Waltner

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Willi Waltner (born January 25, 1934 in Cologne , † July 26, 1966 in Bonn ) was a German wrestler.

Willi Waltner learned wrestling as a boy at the Cologne Club for Strength Sports v. 1893 and 1951 and 1952 German youth champion in the class over 70 kg body weight. Despite his youth, he was preferred by the German Athletes Association (DAB) in the nomination for the 1952 Olympic Games over old master Willi Liebern , Dortmund . In Helsinki he wrestled in both styles (Greco-Roman and freestyle). In the Greco-Roman style, he took 4th place after victories over Kenneth Richmond , Great Britain , Antonios Georgoulis , Greece , and defeats against Tauno Kovanen , Finland , and Josef Růžička , Czechoslovakia . In free style he won against Natale Vecchi , Italy , but lost to Richmond and the eventual Olympic champion Arsen Mekokishvili , USSR , and finished in 7th place in the final result. In 1953 he was able to qualify again for participation in the World Cup, which took place in Naples in the Greco-Roman style. In the first round he defeated László Soltész , Hungary , but then met multiple world champion Bertil Antonsson , Sweden , and the 1952 Olympic champion Johannes Kotkas , USSR, who was already starting for Estonia in 1938 at the European Championships in Tallinn against Kurt Hornfischer from Nuremberg had won. Waltner lost against both wrestlers and was seventh again.

In the four international matches in which he was used, he won over Willy Lardon , Switzerland , Isak Paikin , Denmark , and Catrix, France , and was only defeated by Bengt Fahlkvist , Sweden.

Willi Waltner won the German heavyweight championship in free style in 1953 and 1954.

In 1955, Willi Waltner was replaced as the dominant German heavyweight wrestler by Wilfried Dietrich from Schifferstadt , who dominated the weight class in the following years. Willi Waltner started, although only 21 years old, only for his club in team fights and died after a long and serious illness in 1966, only 32 years old in Bonn.

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personal data
SURNAME Waltner, Willi
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German wrestler
DATE OF BIRTH January 25, 1934
PLACE OF BIRTH Cologne
DATE OF DEATH July 26, 1966
Place of death Bonn