Anton Koolmann (11 September 1899 – 29 June 1953) was a wrestler and coach from Kuusalu Parish, Estonia who took part at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
Career 1924 after winning Estonian Greco-Roman wrestling championships he participated at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France:
Men's Greco-Roman bantamweight (-58 kg) First round– defeated French champion Georges Appruzeze by fall 13min 10s. Second round– lost to 1932 Summer Olympics champion Giovanni Gozzi with points. Third round– lost to 1921 world champion and later Bronze medalist Väinö V. Ikonen with points. (→ did not advance, 13.-16. place) Men's freestyle featherweight (-61 kg) 1/8 Final round– lost to later Gold medalist Robin Reed Tournament to 2nd place – First round– lost to later Silver medalist Chester Newton . (→ did not advance, 10. place)
After Olympics he didn't return to home, but arrived, according to The Estonian Archives in Australia (EAA), 16 February 1925 from Campbeltown to Adelaide, Australia on the four-masted Barque "Carthpool" (Sister ship of Lawhill).
In Australia within the first fortnight of his career as a professional wrestler Koolmann won in seven successive championship matches, two state championships, three Victorian and two Australasian amateur championships.WORLD'S RECORD ESTABLISHED. Seven Successive Championships. ...conceded by the visiting American wrestlers to be unique in wrestling history., The Argus, Monday 14 June 1926 p. 6 He won Australian middleweight championstitle from Hughie Whitman.The Argus., Saturday 26 June 1926 p. 20
15 October 1928 he moved to New Zealand and got citizenship in 1933.
1934 he wrestled against former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Gus "The Goat" Sonnenberg.
In the late 1930s, he trained many New Zealand wrestling champions in his Koolman's Gym in Wellington. Among them Ernie "Kiwi" Kingston and from 1951 Maori professional heavyweight wrestler Keita Meretana of Wairoa.
He died suddenly in his home at age 53 in Wellington, New Zealand.
Sport achievements YearTournamentVenueResultEvent1924Estonian National ChampionshipsTallinn, Estonia1stGreco-Roman wrestling / -57 kg1924Olympic GamesParis, France10thMen's freestyle featherweight -61 kg1924Olympic GamesParis, France13-16thMen's Greco-Roman bantamweight -58 kg
References
A little piece of San Francisco in Wellington! – former Koolman's Wrestling Gym in 171 Cuba Street, Wellington
External links Koolman's Correct Wrestling – Plates 45-48, series reprinted from an early wrestling book Koolman's Correct Wrestling – Plates 57 and 58 Four-masted barque "Carthpool" Anton Koolmann`s descendants Family business