Mikael Hestdahl

Mikael Hestdahl worked in his hometown Bergen as a bricklayer. He was runner-up at the 1911 Norwegian Championships in the 62 kg class and claimed the title in the following year, which earned him a place in the Norwegian team for the 1912 Olympics. There, he suffered his second defeat against Ville Lehmusvirta by fall after 5 minutes in round 3.

Hestdahl left Norway and immigrated to the United States in 1913, where he settled in Duluth, Minnesota and continued to work as a bricklayer. He was also a member of the Young People’s Society and belonged to a local Norwegian Church. His name was anglicized to Michael Hesdal. In May 1918, he was inducted into the US Army in the infantry. In August, he saw action on the Western Front at Verdun. He died a few weeks before the First World War ended because of the wounds inflicted.