August Neo facts for kids
August Neo c. 1936
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 12 February 1908 Vihterpalu, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire |
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| Died | 19 August 1982 (aged 74) Århus, Denmark |
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| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Sport Tallinn | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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August "Ago" Neo (born February 12, 1908 – died August 19, 1982) was a famous Estonian wrestler. He is best known for winning two medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. He earned a silver medal in freestyle wrestling and a bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling. Another Estonian wrestler, Kristjan Palusalu, also won two gold medals at the same Olympics, making it a great time for Estonian wrestling!
August Neo also won five medals at the European wrestling championships between 1934 and 1939. He was a strong competitor in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling styles.
August Neo's Wrestling Journey
August Neo started wrestling in 1928. By 1931, he was already competing at the European championships, where he finished fourth. This showed he was a rising star in the sport.
Missing the 1932 Olympics
August Neo was a talented wrestler, but he couldn't go to the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This was because Estonia, like many countries, was facing tough economic times during the Great Depression. They couldn't afford to send a full team of athletes to the games.
Olympic Success in 1936
The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin were a highlight of August Neo's career. He competed in the 87 kg weight class. He showed incredible skill by winning two medals in different wrestling styles.
- He won a silver medal in freestyle wrestling.
- He won a bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling.
This was a remarkable achievement, as winning medals in two different wrestling styles at the same Olympics is very rare.
European Championship Medals
Besides his Olympic success, August Neo also won several medals at the European Championships:
- 1934 Rome: Silver medal in Greco-Roman (79 kg)
- 1935 Copenhagen: Bronze medal in Greco-Roman (87 kg)
- 1935 Brussels: Bronze medal in Freestyle (87 kg)
- 1937 Paris: Silver medal in Greco-Roman (87 kg)
- 1939 Oslo: Bronze medal in Greco-Roman (87 kg)
These medals prove he was one of Europe's top wrestlers for many years.
Life After Wrestling
August Neo stopped wrestling during World War II. After the war, he moved to Sweden. There, he started his own small transport company and worked as a truck driver.
He passed away in 1982 in Denmark. He was on his way from Germany to Sweden when he died. August Neo was first buried in Stockholm, Sweden. However, in 1998, his remains were moved and reburied in the Metsakalmistu cemetery in Tallinn, Estonia. This brought him back to his home country.
Images for kids
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August Neo, a celebrated Estonian wrestler.
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The Olympic rings, a symbol of the Olympic Games.
