Frank Öivind Stefan Andersson (9 May 1956 – 9 September 2018) was a Swedish amateur wrestler and entertainer. He started in amateur wrestling, winning several world championship gold medals as well as a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He later became a professional wrestler with mixed success. He was also a television personality appearing on several Swedish reality and game shows.
Frank Andersson | |
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![]() Frank Andersson at the Swedish Sports Awards inside the Stockholm Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden in January 2014 | |
Birth name | Frank Öivind Stefan Andersson |
Born | Trollhättan, Sweden[1] | 9 May 1956
Died | 9 September 2018 Stockholm, Sweden | (aged 62)
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Frank Andersson |
Billed height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) |
Billed weight | 106 kg (234 lb; 16.7 st) |
Trained by | Brad Rheingans[1] WCW Power Plant[1] |
Debut | 3 May 1991[2] |
Retired | 2014 |
Amateur wrestling career
editMedal record | ||
---|---|---|
Men's Greco-Roman wrestling | ||
Representing Sweden | ||
Olympic Games | ||
1984 Los Angeles | 90 kg | |
World Championships | ||
1977 Gothenburg | 90 kg | |
1979 San Diego | 90 kg | |
1982 Katowice | 90 kg |
Frank Andersson's amateur wrestling career included gold medals at the 1973 and 1975 Junior World Championships and as he got older he wrestled at a number of Greco-Roman wrestling World Championships over the years.[3] In 1977, 1979 and 1982 he won the gold medal in the 90 kg (200 lb; 14 st) division.[3] He also took the silver medal in 1978 and 1981. The pinnacle of his amateur wrestling career came in 1984 at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles where he won a bronze medal in the 90 kg weight division.[4] In addition to his in ring achievements, Andersson was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1977.[5] He was inducted in the Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006.[6]
Professional wrestling career
editAndersson was trained for his professional career by Brad Rheingans, a former Olympian as well, and made his debut on 3 May 1991 for the American Wrestling Association, defeating Randy Thornton, who also debuted.[7] Within months, he went to Japan, wrestling for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) teaming with Rheingans.[8]
On April 8, 1993, he worked one night only for the WWE when he defeated Red Tyler in Paris, France at a European Tour show.
In 1994, he signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), based in Atlanta.[9] Andersson would win upset victories over Booker T., Stevie Ray and Alex Wright. He retired in 1995.[10]
Andersson made his comeback in 2014 for STHLM, a promotion based in Stockholm, Sweden. Teaming with Jim Duggan in a tag match. He won the STHLM title on 6 September when he defeated Ken Malmsteen in the main event.[11]
Media career
editHe was a participant on Let's Dance 2011, the Swedish version of Strictly Come Dancing / Dancing with the Stars, where he finished second.[12][13]
In his youth Andersson recorded the music single "Frank's Disco", the song contains music and Andersson being interviewed in the background.[14]
Andersson also appeared in the film Göta Kanal in 1981.[15] He participated as a celebrity contestant on Expedition Robinson V.I.P.[16] He also appeared on the seventh season of Mästarnas mästare; broadcast on SVT, he was the first to be eliminated.[17]
Personal life
editAndersson was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 2010.[18]
Death
editIn late August 2018, Andersson was admitted to hospital with heart problems.[19] On 6 September, Andersson went through surgery. A few days later, he developed complications, and on 9 September 2018, he died at the age of 62.[19][20][21][22]
Championships and accomplishments
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Frank Andersson". Cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ "Frank Andersson". WrestlingData.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ a b ""K*ken måste ju ha sitt" – och andra Frank Andersson-klassiker". Expressen (in Swedish). 9 May 2016. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "All-Olympic results since 1896". International Olympic Committee. 28 July 1984. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
- ^ "Bragdmedaljörer genom tiderna "Feat medals of all time"". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 6 December 2005. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
- ^ "Frank Andersson invald i Hall of Fame" (in Swedish). SVT Sport. 27 September 2006. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Frank Andersson". WrestlingData.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ "Frank Andersson". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ Frank Andersson's contract signing with Eric Bischoff. WCW (Swedish). Archived from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2018 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Hon blev blåst av OS-stjärnan - Kvällsposten". Kvällsposten. 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "STHLM Return Of The King « Events Database". Cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Frank Andersson: "Det känns som en seger" - Let's dance" (in Swedish). TV4. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Frank Andersson är död". Göteborgs-Posten. 9 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ Frank Andersson Ett herrans med Fredrik och Filip, Kanal 5. 13 April 2006.
- ^ "Göta Kanal eller Vem drog ur proppen? (1981)" (in Swedish). Svensk Filmdatabas. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "De är med i nya "Robinson VIP"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 10 July 2004. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Frank fick lämna "Mästarnas mästare": Han var för sjuk". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 3 May 2015. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ Prage, Ninna; Lundberg, Zandra (28 January 2011). "Frank har adhd". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Frank Andersson är död - blev 62 år gammal". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 9 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ Dahl, Amanda; Fransson, Martin (9 September 2018). "Frank Andersson har avlidit". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Frank Andersson - Swedish professional wrestler, died on Sunday September 9th 2018 at age 62". Dead People. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Frank Andersson är död". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). 9 September 2018. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Frank Andersson Ny Mästare i STHLM W!" (in Swedish). STHLM. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Legendaren Frank Andersson på sjukhus – nu tvingas han till akut operation" (in Swedish). Sportbibeln. 5 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Awards « Frank Andersson « Wrestlers Database". Cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated". pwi-online.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
External links
edit- Frank Andersson at the International Wrestling Database
- Frank Andersson at CageMatch worker
- Frank Andersson at Olympics.com
- Frank Andersson at Olympedia
- Frank Andersson at the Swedish Olympic Committee (in Swedish)
- Frank Andersson at IMDb