Alfred Salonen

Alfred Salonen was a founding member of Helsingin Jyry. At the Finnish Championships, he took four silver medals: in 1905 and 1906 (< 70 kg), 1908 (< 60 kg), and 1909 (< 73 kg). He never won a national title. In 1911, he claimed bronze in the < 73 kg category at the unofficial World Championships in Helsinki, which were dominated by the Finns.

Based on his domestic achievements, he was already nominated for the 1908 Olympics but did not make it due to lack of funds. At the Stockholm Olympics in 1912, he reached round 5 in the lightweight division. After winning the first two rounds quickly by fall, he was eventually eliminated after losing to Sweden’s Johan Nilsson in a disputed decision.

During the Civil War (1918-19), Salonen spent some time in a prison camp of the “Whites” together with his brother. A mason by profession, he had to interrupt his wrestling career during World War I, resuming it in 1919. By now, his club had joined the Finnish Workers’ Sports Federation (TUL). In 1939, he died from a stroke.