Martin Klein Estonian wrestler who lasted in the ring for more than 10 hours Date of Birth: 12.09.1884 Country: Estonia

Biography of Martin Klein

Martin Klein was an Estonian wrestler who made a lasting impact on the world of sports. Born in 1884 in Tartu, Estonia, Klein grew up in a farming family. Little is known about his early childhood, but at the age of 17, he left home and joined the navy. After a couple of years, he worked as a courier in St. Petersburg, where he also became involved in wrestling. Although he started training seriously at the relatively late age of 20, Klein quickly achieved significant success.

In 1912, Klein represented the Russian Empire in the Olympic wrestling team and traveled to Stockholm for the Olympic Games. It was there that he competed in the historic match that would forever be etched in the history of Greco-Roman wrestling. Facing Alfred Asikainen, a renowned Finnish wrestler and two-time world champion, Klein engaged in a grueling battle that lasted for 11 hours and 40 minutes, with a net fighting time of 10 hours and 15 minutes – a record that still stands today.

Throughout the match, the judges attempted to expedite the outcome, but Klein and Asikainen refused to back down. The spectators eagerly anticipated an exciting fight, but little did they know that they were witnessing history in the making. In those times, wrestling matches continued until one wrestler emerged as the victor, without any time restrictions. Klein and Asikainen fought relentlessly, with no visible advantage for either of them.

As the hours passed, the tension in the arena grew. The judges, astonished by the endurance of the wrestlers, decided to shorten the breaks between rounds to just one minute after each hour of fighting. However, neither Klein nor Asikainen showed any signs of surrender. The fight continued, and even when the match reached eight hours, the exhausted wrestlers pressed on.

As evening fell, the match was transferred to an equestrian arena, and the judges retired for a consultation. They eventually granted the wrestlers a final 15 minutes to determine the outcome. By this time, the fight had moved entirely to the ground. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Klein managed to overturn the fatigued Finnish wrestler and secure victory in this historic battle.

Unfortunately, Klein had to miss the match the following day, which allowed the Swedish wrestler, Klas Johansson, to claim the Olympic victory. Nevertheless, Martin Klein's name became forever etched in the history of Greco-Roman wrestling as the champion of the longest fight in history.

After retiring from wrestling in the late 1930s, Klein worked as a coach, training the Estonian Olympic team. When the war for independence broke out in Estonia, he actively participated in the conflict. He eventually settled in the countryside and lived a quiet life until his untimely death in 1947. Some sources attribute his demise to a hernia he acquired during his youth as a dockworker, while others claim it was due to an unfortunate accident.

To honor his legacy, a monument was erected in Klein's honor in the Estonian city of Viljandi, and several wrestling tournaments continue to bear his name.