Aleksander Aberg

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Aleksander Richard "Leks" Aberg (* August 12, 1881 born in Kolga, Kuusalu Parish, Estonia; † February 15, 1920 in Armavir, Krasnodar Krai) was a famous Estonian professional Greco-Roman and free-style wrestling World Champion of the early 20th century.He took part of World Heavyweight Championship and was one of the three most famous Estonian professional wrestlers beside Georg Lurich and Georg Hackenschmidt.

Alex Aberg wrestled in North America (1913-14 and 1915-16) with mixed success. Together with Lurich he came back via Japan and China to Russia in 1917 and arrived in Estonia in autumn. They participated in a wrestling tournament in Tallinn that remained unfinished due to the approach of the German troops. The athletes went to St. Petersburg and on to South Russia. The war meant an end to work in St. Petersburg and Moscow. It seemed better in the southern region controlled by white guards. However, the war spread and the men had to move further inside Russia. They could stop only in a far corner of South Russia Armavir. Their aim was to leave Russia across the Black Sea by boat.

Unfortunately things took a dramatic turn in Armavir at the beginning of 1920. The front reached them, the town passed from hand to hand in battles several times, many perished and there were masses of funerals. Warm winter brought on typhoid. Due to the war, medical aid was difficult to get. Typhoid did not pass by our sports celebrities. Lurich fell ill first and could not be rescued. He died on 22 January 1920. Mourning Aberg had also become infected but he managed to win the illness. Unfortunately he rushed to get up, caught pneumonia and died on 15 February 1920. The wrestlers were buried in one grave in Armavir German cemetery.

[edit] References

• Georg Kristjanson, "Eesti raskejõustiku ajaloost" (Lurichist Taltsini). Eesti Raamat, Tallinn 1973, pages.145–157
• Georg Lurich Biographical data

[edit] External links

• New York City Wrestling Results - 1915.
• New York City Wrestling Results - 1916.
• The World Title and Contenders of 1915 to 1920 by Steve Yohe.
• The New York Times Article- December 3, 1915 - WRESTLER CUTLER INJURED IN BOUT; Tries for Chancery Hold on Aberg, Misses, and Crashes to the Floor.
• The New York Times Article- November 16, 1915 - HARD MATCH FOR ABERG.; Russian Finds a Tartar on Mat in Johnson of Sweden.
• The New York Times Article- November 12, 1915 - ABERG ON THE MAT.; Graeco-Roman Champion Easily Throws Fritz Wagner.
• The New York Times Article- June 7, 1915 - ABERG LEADS WRESTLERS.; Champion Has Ten Victories and One Draw to His Credit.
• The New York Times Article- May 31, 1915 - STANDING OF WRESTLERS.; Aberg and Le Colosse Have Clean Records in Manhattan Tournament.