Eemil Ernesti VÄRE

Without a doubt, Emil Väre was the world’s best Greco-Roman lightweight wrestler before World War I. He won every international tournament he entered, earning gold at the 1911 World Championships, 1912 Olympic Games and 1912 Unofficial European Championships. He also won Finnish lightweight titles in 1909 and 1911 and did not lose a match between 1912 and 1916. His career was interrupted by war, but he returned to wrestling and continued his dominance by capturing his second Olympic gold medal in 1920.

Väre retired from sports after the 1920 Olympics and later served as a wrestling referee and wrestling coach with his club Viipurin Voimailijat. He was the president of Viipurin Voimailijat in 1925 and 1927-31 and worked as a general-secretary, treasurer and vice-president of this club. He was also a long-time board member of the Finnish Wrestling Federation.