Postcard FI-4222067

Johan Verner Weckman (26 July 1882 – 22 February 1968) was a wrestler, who is the first Finnish Olympic gold medalist.
He was inspired to take up wrestling at the age of 15. He joined the club Helsingfors Gymnastikklubben in 1902, then moved to Helsingin Atleettiklubi in 1903.He won the Finnish national Greco-Roman heavyweight championship in 1904.Then he moved to Germany, where he joined the club Germania Karlsruhe.
He won the unofficial Greco-Roman heavyweight world title in Duisburg in 1905.
Weckman was the initiating force behind Finland sending a team to the 1906 Intercalated Games. He was being pressured by the German Imperial committee for Olympic Games to change citizenship and to join the German team, but Weckman insisted on representing Finland. He found a private financial supporter, and four Finnish competitors travelled to Athens. He won gold in his class.