Leo Thomas Nolan (10 December 1912 – 27 January 1979) was a New Zealand wrestler who represented his country at the 1938 British Empire Games.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Leo Thomas Nolan |
| Born | 10 December 1911 |
| Died | 27 January 1979 (aged 66) |
| Sport | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sport | Wrestling |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals | Bantamweight champion (1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938) Flyweight champion (1935) Lightweight champion (1936) |
Biography edit
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 edit
- ^ "Birth index: registration number 1912/1994". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ "Wrestling fixtures". Evening Post. 17 April 1937. p. 22. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ "New Zealand amateur championships: wrestling". Northern Advocate. 21 September 1937. p. 9. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ "Wrestling titles". New Zealand Herald. 21 September 1938. p. 13. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Leo Nolan". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ a b "N.Z. boxers, wrestlers beaten". Northern Advocate. 8 February 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ "Leo Thomas Nolan". Online Cenotaph. Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Cemetery details". Kapiti Coast District Council. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
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