Laurent Gerstmans
| Laurent Gerstmans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 26 February 1885 Antwerp, Belgium |
| Died | April 3, 1955 |
Laurent Gerstmans (26 February 1885 – 3 April 1955[1]) was a Belgian wrestler. He competed in the heavyweight event at the 1912 Summer Olympics.[2][3]
Information
[edit]Gerstmans was a dock worker originally.[4] He was said to be a legend of the Antwerp wrestling scene and was nicknammed, "Apollo".[4] He was a European wrestling champion and had once competed for a version of the world heavyweight title.[5][6] Gertmans also competed as a professional boxer[7][8] and once defeated Japanese jiu-hitsu legend Mikinosuke Kawaishi in a match.[5] Gertsmans wrestled in places such as England and Madison Square Garden throughout his career.[9]
After retiring from the ring, he opened Café Jozef in Astridplein.[4] He was later honored with a mural on Constitutiestraat 11 street in Antwerp, Belgium.[4] In 2015, a professional wrestling tournament was held in Antwerp called the "Laurent Gerstmans Cup".[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Laurent Gerstmans". Olympedia. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Laurent Gerstmans Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ Laurent Gerstmans, Schoonselhof, 2024, retrieved 12 April 2023
- ^ a b c d 57 Laurent Gerstmans [57 Laurent Gerstmans] (in Dutch), willbrordus.be, 2023, retrieved 13 March 2023
- ^ a b The Belgian Goliath, wrestlingheritage.co.uk, 1996, retrieved 12 April 2023
- ^ The Man of All Talents:The Extraordinary Life of Douglas Duggy Clark, publisher: Pitch Publishing, published: 2020, url: https://books.google.com/books?id=y8tHEAAAQBAJ&dq=Laurent+Gerstmans&pg=PT217
- ^ Laurent Gerstmans, Boxrec, 2024, retrieved 12 April 2023
- ^ Sport in 't stad:Antwerpen 1830-1914, publisher: Universitaire Pers Leuven, published: 2006, url: https://books.google.com/books?id=y8tHEAAAQBAJ&dq=Laurent+Gerstmans&pg=PT217
- ^ The History of Professional Wrestling, publisher: Scott Teal, published: 2009, url:https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_History_of_Professional_Wrestling/-THYAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Laurent+Gerstmans&dq=Laurent+Gerstmans&printsec=frontcover
- ^ Laurent Gerstmans Cup, Cagematch, 2015, retrieved 12 April 2023
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