Josef Beránek

Josef Beránek was one of the most successful Bohemian/Czechoslovakian amateur wrestlers of his time. He took his first two national titles in 1911 and 1912 in the 60 kg class of Greco-Roman wrestling. After World War I, he added five titles in the 67 kg class (1919, 1921-22, 1924, 1927) and another one in the 75 kg class (1925). At international championships, he had the following finishes – 1909 Middle European Championship: 60 kg (1st), 1913 unofficial European Championships: 60 kg (4th), 1914 unofficial European Championship: 67.5 kg. Greco-Roman (6th).

Despite the break during the war, he also competed in three Olympic Games. In 1912, he advanced to round four of the featherweight class. In this weight category, he placed first at the 1919 Interallied Games. At the first post-war Olympics in 1920 in Antwerp, he took 6th place in the featherweight division after losing to 1924 gold medalist Eduard Pütsep. At the 1924 Olympics in Paris, he wrestled in the lightweight category (up to 67.5 kg) and was eliminated in the 3rd round after two defeats by decision.

At the age of 39, he still competed at the 1930 European Championship in Stockholm placing 4th in the middleweight (79 kg).