A collection of Swedish wrestling history
Auktionshuset Gomér & Andersson in Norrköping are honoured to present the sale of the collection of wrestling icon Ivar Johansson (1903-1979).
The collection of medals and trophies from Ivar Johansson's wrestling career is one of the finest and most important groups of sports memorabilia to be offered at auction in Sweden.
Ivar Johansson grew up at Vikbolandet outside of Norrköping and worked in both the forest industry as well with agriculture, work that gave him his physical strength. In Norrköping he started to wrestle in the clubs Tornet and IK Sleipner. In 1926 the club IK Björnen was started and focused on just wrestling. Ivar Johansson soon became one of their most skilled members.
In 1928 he became the Swedish champion for the first time and he also participated in his first olympic games, in Amsterdam. He finished 9th in greco-roman wrestling in the -75 class. The year after he participated in in the European championship and conquered his first international medal, a bronze. In 1930 he managed to win a silver in the European championship and in 1931 he won the gold. His first international gold medal.
The feat in Los Angeles
1932 is the year that made him to one of the biggest athletic stars in Sweden at the time. Four years had passed since the olympic games in Amsterdam and this time the competitions were held in Los Angeles, far away from Sweden. The Swedish wrestling team decided to go to New York by boat which was a nine day trip at this time. They used all the time on the boat for training making the trip an intense training camp. After arrival in New York they continued the trip to Los Angeles by train, giving the team some much needed rest and recovery. They arrived in Los Angeles in great shape.
Ivar Johansson first participated in the freestyle middleweight class where he won the gold medal, his first olympic medal. Immediately after the win he went to the sauna to lose weight. He was so focused he didn't even go to the award ceremony for his medal! After losing more than 10 lbs in 24 hours he managed to qualify for the welterweight class in greco-roman style as well. He then managed to win the gold in this class as well.
For his incredible feat in Los Angeles Ivar Johansson was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet's gold medal for the biggest feat of the year in Swedish sports. The award is one of the most prestigious sports awards in Sweden and has been awarded since 1925.
In 1936 he participated in his last olympic games in Berlin, in the middleweight greco-roman class. He then won his third olympic gold medal. Something only three other wrestlers has managed to do.
One of Sweden's most successful wrestlers
When Ivar Johansson ended his career he could call himself three time olympic champion, nine times European champion and twenty two times Swedish champion. Thus making him one of Sweden's most successful wrestlers of all time.
Besides being a successful wrestler Ivar Johansson was also a policeman for many years in the city of Norrköping. He was a well known face in the city and when patrolling he always kept a hand strengthener in his pocket so he could get some extra training.
In this sale you will find Ivar Johansson's three olympic gold medals, several European championship medals, trophies and other awards from his career.
Welcome to explore a piece of Swedish sports history!
Ivar Johansson in his police uniform.
Ivar Johansson in front of his trophies.