Leo Nolan (wrestler)

Leo Thomas Nolan (10 December 1912 – 27 January 1979) was a New Zealand wrestler who represented his country at the 1938 British Empire Games.

Leo Nolan
Personal information
Birth nameLeo Thomas Nolan
Born(1911-12-10)10 December 1911
Died27 January 1979(1979-01-27) (aged 66)
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportWrestling
Achievements and titles
National finalsBantamweight champion (1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938)
Flyweight champion (1935)
Lightweight champion (1936)

Biography

Born on 10 December 1911, Nolan was the son of Thomas Nolan and Evelyn Beatrice Nolan (née Williams).[1]

Representing Wellington, Nolan won several New Zealand amateur wrestling titles: he was the bantamweight champion in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937 and 1938; the flyweight champion in 1935; and the lightweight champion in 1936.[2][3][4]

At the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, Nolan competed in the freestyle wrestling bantamweight (57 kg) division.[5] In the preliminary rounds, he defeated the Australian, Ted Purcell (who went on to win the gold medal), by one fall; but lost to Englishman Ray Cazaux (the eventual bronze medalist) by one fall.[6] In the semi-finals, Nolan was defeated by the Canadian competitor, Vernon Blake, and finished in fourth place.[5][6]

During World War II, Nolan served as a driver in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force.[7][8]

Nolan died on 27 January 1979, and he was buried at Paraparaumu Cemetery.[8]

References
  1. "Birth index: registration number 1912/1994". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  2. "Wrestling fixtures". Evening Post. 17 April 1937. p. 22. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  3. "New Zealand amateur championships: wrestling". Northern Advocate. 21 September 1937. p. 9. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  4. "Wrestling titles". New Zealand Herald. 21 September 1938. p. 13. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  5. "Leo Nolan". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  6. "N.Z. boxers, wrestlers beaten". Northern Advocate. 8 February 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  7. "Leo Thomas Nolan". Online Cenotaph. Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  8. "Cemetery details". Kapiti Coast District Council. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
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