Bernard Rowe

Having represented Great Britain at the 1924 Paris Olympics, freestyle wrestler Bernard Rowe stepped up from middleweight to light-heavyweight for the Amsterdam Games four years later. That same year, he also won the British light-heavy title, the first of eight titles for Rowe.

In 1929 Rowe won the British middle, light-heavy and heavyweight titles, and also appeared in the European Championships at Paris. Unfortunately, an ankle injury prevented him retaining his British titles in 1930. He went on to win four more titles, however, middleweight (1932-33) and light-heavyweight (1933-34). Rowe also reached the heavyweight final in 1932 but had to withdraw due to an injured arm and ear.

A Nottingham City policeman, Rowe’s finest moment internationally came at the British Empire Games at London in 1934 when he won a light-heavyweight silver medal. Rowe’s brother Douglas was a footballer and played in the Football League with Luton Town, Lincoln City, and Southampton. He was also an excellent wrestler and was the 1931 British welterweight champion.