Bertil Antonsson

Hans Bertil August Antonsson (19 July 1921 – 27 November 2006) was a Swedish heavyweight wrestler. He competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1960 Summer Olympics in freestyle wrestling and won silver medals in 1948 and 1952. In 1956 he entered the Greco-Roman contest instead and finished fifth.[1]

Bertil Antonsson

Antonsson at the 1952 Olympics
Personal information
Full name	Hans Bertil August Antonsson
Born	19 July 1921 Trollhättan, Sweden
Died	27 November 2006 (aged 85) Trollhättan, Sweden
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	100 kg (220 lb)
Sport
Sport	Wrestling
Club	Trollhättans Atletklubb
Medal record Men's wrestling Representing  Sweden Olympic Games 1948 London Freestyle +87 kg 1952 Helsinki Freestyle +87 kg World Championships 1950 Stockholm Greco-Roman +87 kg 1951 Helsinki Freestyle +87 kg 1953 Naples Greco-Roman +87 kg 1954 Tokyo Freestyle +87 kg 1955 Karlsruhe Greco-Roman +87 kg European Championships 1946 Stockholm Freestyle +87 kg 1949 Istanbul Freestyle +87 kg

Antonsson took up wrestling at age 14, began competing aged 17, and retired at 47. Besides Olympic medals he won three world, two European and 24 national titles. At the 1953 World Greco-Roman Championships he dominated the reigning Olympic champion Johannes Kotkas, who was 30 kg heavier than Antonsson; he won the world title and was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal later that year.[2]

In retirement, for many years Antonsson headed his native club Trollhättans and refereed wrestling competitions. His brother Bengt and nephew Hans were also prominent wrestlers.[2]