Konstantin Gern

Konstantin Gern started his sporting career in 1908. A third place in the 1,500 m at the trials of the Baltic provinces of the Russian Empire earned him a place on the Olympic team of Russia. Due to lack of funds, however, he was unable to travel to Stockholm and to compete. Two years later, he won silver at the second All-Russian Olympics in Riga in the 1,500 m and gold in the 4 x 400 m relay and in the same year, he set a Russian record in the 1,000 m. In the late 1910s and the 1920s he was also a successful boxer winning the Russian Navy heavyweight championship in 1917 and the Estonian championship as a light-heavyweight in 1926. Nevertheless, he continued to excel in track racing, winning Estonian championships in 1,500 m (1923) and 4 x 400 m relay (1926). Gern represented various clubs including “Aberg” in Tartu (later “Kalev”, until 1912), SK Amateur and FK Unions in Riga, Kalev in Petrograd (1917-20) and eventually VS Sport.

In 1912, Gern started studying printing in Rīga. After the revolution, he worked in Tallinn as a department manager of the Estonian Publishing Association and later at the Communist Printing House.

In 1922, he started a career as a sports official, becoming vice-chairman of the boxing department of the Estonian Athletics, Heavy Athletics and Water Sports Union (EKRAVE) and later in the reorganized Wrestling, Boxing and Weightlifting Union. From 1943-44 he was acting chairman of the latter and deputy chairman of the Sports Central Union. From 1922-40 he was a member of the Sports Board. He was active as a wrestling, boxing and weightlifting referee for over 20 years and a member of the board of judges from 1946-54. Gern received the Silver Medal of Merit of the Finnish Wrestling Federation. His brother Evald Roorand (born Evald Gern, 1905-1987) was also a well-known athlete and sports figure in Estonia.