Klaus Wallas

Klaus Wallas represented Austria at the 1976 Montréal Olympics. He lost his group semi-final to US judoka Allen Coage and was eliminated in the heavyweight division. In the open class Wallas was eliminated by Jorge Portelli from Argentina. Wallas later participated frequently in World’s Strongest Man Competitions and placed sixth in 1986.

Wallas was a multiple national champion in Austria, and was European light-heavyweight champion in 1972. He was also the Military World Champion in 1976. Directly after the 1976 Olympics he was criticized by Kurt Kucera, the president of the Austrian Judo Federation, and Wallas immediately retired.

Wallas was then active as a professional karate fighter, wrestler and catcher. On the wrestling scene he was nicknamed “Susi”. Temporarily, Wallas ran several pubs and bars at Linz.