May 23rd is globally recognized as World Wrestling Day
What is World Wrestling Day?
World Wrestling Day commemorates the first Greco-Roman wrestling world championships held on May 23, 1904 in Vienna, Austria.
Today, World Wrestling Day is used as a time to celebrate and promote all styles of amateur wrestling around the world.
The month of May is regarded as “World Wrestling Month”
First Greco-Roman World Championship
On May 23, 1904, competitors from 5 surrounding countries participated in the inaugural Greco-Roman World Championship held in Vienna, Austria.
The host country, Austria, was heavily represented, accounting for 19 out of 26 total competitors, while Demark, Germany, Hungary, and Bohemia also brought representatives.
Participants by Country:
- Austria (19)
- Denmark (3)
- Germany (2)
- Hungary (1)
- Bohemia (1)
Medal Winners
World Middleweight Champion
Only two weight classes were contested at the event: Middleweight (under 75 kg) and Heavyweight (75 kg and above).
Severin Ahlqvist of Denmark won the Middleweight title and Rudolf Arnold of Austria won the Heavyweight title.
Of the six medals awarded, Austria won four with Denmark and Germany each claiming one.
| Weight Class | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middleweight | Severin Ahlqvist Denmark | Hans Schneider Germany | Andreas Wolf Austria |
| Heavyweight | Rudolf Arnold Austria | Anton Schmitz Austria | Heinrich Wolfram Austria |
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