Lauri Koskela

Lauri Koskela was one of the world’s best Greco-Roman lightweight wrestlers during the 1930s. Starting his career as a featherweight, Koskela first competed internationally at the 1932 Olympics, where he won bronze in Greco-Roman featherweight. After the Olympics Koskela switched to lightweight and competed in that class until his untimely death during World War II. As a lightweight, Koskela won Olympic gold in 1936 and was the European champion in 1935, 1937, and 1938. He also won European Championship bronze in 1939. Domestically, Koskela won seven Finnish titles: in 1932 and 1933 in Greco-Roman featherweight and in 1936 and 1940-43 in Greco-Roman lightweight. Corporal Koskela was killed in action during the Continuation War near Baryshevo, Leningrad Oblast, which was then part of Finland.