Gerry Martina

Freestyle wrestler Gerry Martina represented Ireland at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. He narrowly missed out on a medal at Melbourne when classified equal fourth after reaching the light-heavyweight final six, when he lost by what many believed was an illegal stranglehold by his Soviet opponent Boris Kulayev. Nevertheless, Martina’s fourth place remains the highest position by an Irish wrestler at the Olympics through Paris 2024.

Between 1949-60, Martina won 13 national titles, including 11 consecutive light-heavyweight titles. He also captured the British light-heavyweight title at the Albert Hall, London, in 1956. An all-round sportsman, Martina was a prop forward for the Monkstown RUFC, Dublin, and his fellow prop was another Olympic wrestler, Joe Feeney. Martina later became a trainer at Drogheda Football Club between 1964-72. By occupation, he was a terrazzo tile floor layer