Aleksander Aberg

Aleksander Richard "Leks" Aberg (born August 12 1881 in Kolga, Kuusalu Parish, Estonia, died 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 in the World Heavyweight Championship and was one of the three most famous Estonian professional wrestlers along with 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 Saint Petersburg and on to South Russia. The war meant an end to work in Saint 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. Lurich fell ill first and could not be rescued, dying on January 22, 1920. Aberg had also become infected but he managed to defeat the illness. Unfortunately he rushed his recovery, caught pneumonia, and died on February 15, 1920. The wrestlers were buried in one grave in Armavir German cemetery.

References

* Georg Kristjanson, "Eesti raskejõustiku ajaloost" (Lurichist Taltsini). Eesti Raamat, Tallinn 1973, pages.145–157
* [http://www.lurich.de/infos Georg Lurich Biographical data]

External links

* [http://www.legacyofwrestling.com/Results_-_NYC15.html New York City Wrestling Results - 1915.]
* [http://www.legacyofwrestling.com/Results_-_NYC16.html New York City Wrestling Results - 1916.]
* [http://crowbarpress.com/column/yohe-01.htm The World Title and Contenders of 1915 to 1920 by Steve Yohe.]
* cite news
author=
title=WRESTLER CUTLER INJURED IN BOUT; Tries for Chancery Hold on Aberg, Misses, and Crashes to the Floor.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A01E2DC153EE033A25750C0A9649D946496D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-08
* cite news
author=
title=HARD MATCH FOR ABERG.; Russian Finds a Tartar on Mat in Johnson of Sweden.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C0DE2DF1539EF32A25755C1A9679D946496D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-08
* cite news
author=
title=ABERG ON THE MAT.; Graeco-Roman Champion Easily Throws Fritz Wagner.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9404E1D9133FE233A25751C1A9679D946496D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-08
* cite news
author=
title=ABERG LEADS WRESTLERS.; Champion Has Ten Victories and One Draw to His Credit.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=990CE3DF1038E633A25754C0A9609C946496D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-08
* cite news
author=
title=STANDING OF WRESTLERS.; Aberg and Le Colosse Have Clean Records in Manhattan Tournament.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9501EFD81338E633A25752C3A9639C946496D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-08