Alfred Johan "Alpo" Asikainen (2 November 1888 – 7 January 1942) was a

Finnish Finnish may refer to: * Something or someone from, or related to Finland * Culture of Finland * Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland * Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people * Finnish cuisine See also ...

wrestler who competed in the

1912 Summer Olympics The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, be ...

, winning the bronze medal.

Sporting career

Asikainen won the Greco-Roman middleweight event at the 1911 World Wrestling Championships in Helsinki. It was the only time he finished within the podium at a World Wrestling Championship. At the 1912 Olympics Asikainen won against his first four opponents, including the eventual winner

Claes Johanson Claes Edvin Johansson (4 November 1884 – 9 March 1949) was a Swedish wrestler Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other gra ...

. In the semifinal he wrestled Estonian Martin Klein, who was forced to represent Russia, for eleven hours and forty minutes (time limits were introduced to wrestling in 1924) on a blisteringly sunny day outdoors in the

Stockholm Olympic Stadium Stockholm Olympic Stadium ( sv, Stockholms Olympiastadion), most often called Stockholms stadion or (especially locally) simply Stadion, is a stadium in Stockholm, Sweden. Designed by architect Torben Grut, it was opened in 1912; its original use ...

. After one hour, a short rest was granted, and then every thirty minutes. Asikainen lost by pin, and Klein ended up withdrawing from the final due to exhaustion, resulting in Johansson winning the gold medal by default. Asikainen was awarded the bronze medal. The bout between Asikainen and Klein remains the longest wrestling match in history.

References

;General * ;Specific

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Asikainen, Alfred 1888 births 1942 deaths Sportspeople from Vyborg People from Viipuri Province (Grand Duchy of Finland) Wrestlers at the 1912 Summer Olympics Finnish male sport wrestlers Olympic wrestlers of Finland Olympic bronze medalists for Finland Olympic medalists in wrestling Medalists at the 1912 Summer Olympics World Wrestling Championships medalists