Harry Larsson

Harry Larsson was born as the son of a captain and moved to Göteborg with his parents at the age of three. There, he wrestled for IFK Gothenburg and later for Örgryte IS. In 1910, he won his first Swedish Championship in the lightweight for IFK. In the same year, he made his first trip to the United States visiting his brother in Hoboken. Obviously, he spent several years there, because he was one of the athletes who volunteered to represent Sweden following a respective call by Swedish officials in the United States. He was selected despite charges by his fellow wrestlers of being a professional. His trip was paid for from funds collected by the Swedish Gymnastics Association in the US.

At the 1912 Olympics, Larson won his first three bouts in the featherweight (60 kg) category. He then met two wrestlers from Finland, Otto Lasanen and Kalle Leivonen, eventually placing third and fourth. After tough fights, Larsson had to give up after 45 and 49 minutes of wrestling, respectively.

In 1919 and 1920 he was employed as a cabin steward aboard the ship “Stockholm” travelling regularly from Sweden to New York. He also worked as an acrobat in circus shows. In the 1920, he moved to Freeport, NY to become a fisherman and lobsterman. In 1942, he applied for American citizenship, which was eventually granted in 1945. Harry Larsson died in the USA in 1976.