Eduard Hermann

Estonian sportsman Eduard Hermann was a successful race walker who later became a boxer. In 1912 Hermann won a 10 kilometres test event in Riga, which earned him selection to the Russian Olympic team. He competed in the same event at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics but failed to finish in his heat. The following year he set an Estonian record in the 10 km walk with a time of 53:43.0. During World War I Hermann fought for Russia but became a prisoner of war in Germany in November 1914.

After the war Hermann represented Estonia at the 1920 Antwerpen Olympics. He competed in both the 3,000 metres and 10 kilometres race walks where he was disqualified in the heats of each event. Later the same year Hermann became the Estonian champion in the 3,000 metres race walk.

Following his race walking career Hermann took up boxing in 1920 fighting as a middleweight. In addition to competing in the ring he also was the first person in Estonia to write about the history and technique of the sport. In 1926 Hermann immigrated to Australia where he worked as a leader of the agricultural and forestry team that was founded by Estonian migrants. He later worked as farmer and died in Chatswood, New South Wales, in 1960.

Personal Bests: 3000W – 14:49.8 (1920); 10kmW – 53:43.0 (1913).