Johan richthoff

Johan Richthoff

B. 1898, Limhamn, near Malmö, Sweden

Olympic Wrestling - Free-Style - 2 gold medals 1928 and 1932

Heavyweight 192 lb.

Obverse: Head of Richthoff, facing left. JOHAN RICHTHOFF, around above /

FRISTILENS FRAMSTE (Free-Style Progress), around below.

Reverse: Uniface

41 mm goldplated bronze

Legends in Swedish

On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right. A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli.

Johan Richthoff began as a cooper and became a minister in the Swedish Free Church and a campaigner against alcohol. He weighed 112 kg but was an excellent technician.

Heavyweight catch-as-catch-can wrestling champion, after a three-day tournament, Johan Richthoff the huge Swedish clergyman won a gold medal in 1928 again in 1932.