Väinö Kokkinen
Finnish wrestler (1899–1967)
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Väinö Kokkinen (25 November 1899 – 27 August 1967) was a Finnish Greco-Roman wrestler. He won two Olympic gold medals in the middleweight category, in 1928 and 1932, and finished in fourth place in 1936. Between 1925 and 1933 he won one gold and four silver medals at the European championships as well as six national titles (1926, 1929–32 and 1934).[1]
Born25 November 1899
Died27 August 1967 (aged 67)
Kouvola, Finland
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight78–85 kg (172–187 lb)
Väinö Kokkinen at the 1928 Olympics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 25 November 1899 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 27 August 1967 (aged 67) Kouvola, Finland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 78–85 kg (172–187 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Greco-Roman wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | HKV, Helsinki HPM, Helsinki | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Kokkinen was a blacksmith by profession and fought in the Finnish Civil War. He started training in wrestling in 1921, after moving to Helsinki. He retired in 1936 and ran a successful business in the clothing and hospitality industry. In the 1940s he was also a board member of the sports club Helsingin Jyry.[1]
