Frank Andersson

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
Frank Andersson at the Swedish Sports Awards inside the Stockholm Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden in January 2014
Birth nameFrank Öivind Stefan Andersson
Born(1956-05-09)9 May 1956
Trollhättan, Sweden[1]
Died9 September 2018(2018-09-09) (aged 62)
Stockholm, Sweden
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Frank Andersson
Billed height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Billed weight106 kg (234 lb; 16.7 st)
Trained byBrad Rheingans[1]
WCW Power Plant[1]
Debut3 May 1991[2]
Retired2016

Amateur wrestling career
Medal record
Men's Greco-Roman wrestling
Representing  Sweden
Olympic Games
1984 Los AngelesLight heavyweight
World Championships
1977 Gothenburg90 kg
1979 San Diego90 kg
1982 Katowice90 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

Andersson 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).[8]

In 1993, he signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), based in Atlanta.[9] He retired in 1995.[10]

Andersson made his comeback in 2014 for STHLM, a promotion based in Stockholm, Sweden. He won the STHLM title on 6 September when he defeated Ken Malmsteen in the main event.[11]

Media career

He 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

Andersson was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 2010.[18]

Death

In late August 2018, Andersson was admitted to hospital with heart problems.[19] On 6 September, Andersson went through surgery. A few days later, he suffered complications, and on 9 September 2018, he died at the age of 62.[19][20][21][22]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. "Frank Andersson". Cagematch.net. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  2. "Frank Andersson". WrestlingData.com. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  3. ""K*ken måste ju ha sitt" – och andra Frank Andersson-klassiker". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  4. "All-Olympic results since 1896". International Olympic Committee. 28 July 1984. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  5. "Bragdmedaljörer genom tiderna "Feat medals of all time"". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish).
  6. "Frank Andersson invald i Hall of Fame" (in Swedish). SVT. 27 September 2006. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  7. "Frank Andersson". WrestlingData.com. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  8. "Frank Andersson". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  9. "Frank Andersson's contract signing with Eric Bischoff". WCW (Swedish). Archived from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  10. "Hon blev blåst av OS-stjärnan - Kvällsposten". Expressen. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  11. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "STHLM Return Of The King « Events Database". Cagematch.net. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  12. "Frank Andersson: "Det känns som en seger" - Let's dance" (in Swedish). TV4. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  13. "Frank Andersson är död". Göteborgs Posten. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  14. Frank Andersson Ett herrans med Fredrik och Filip, Kanal 5, 13 April 2006
  15. "Göta Kanal eller Vem drog ur proppen? (1981)" (in Swedish). Svensk Filmdatabas. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  16. "De är med i nya "Robinson VIP"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  17. "Frank fick lämna "Mästarnas mästare": Han var för sjuk". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  18. Prage, Ninna; Lundberg, Zandra (28 January 2011). "Frank har adhd". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  19. "Frank Andersson är död - blev 62 år gammal". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  20. Dahl, Amanda; Fransson, Martin (9 September 2018). "Frank Andersson har avlidit". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  21. "Frank Andersson - Swedish professional wrestler, died on Sunday September 9th 2018 at age 62". Dead People. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  22. "Frank Andersson är död" (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  23. "Frank Andersson Ny Mästare i STHLM W!" (in Swedish). STHLM. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  24. "Legendaren Frank Andersson på sjukhus – nu tvingas han till akut operation" (in Swedish). Sportbibeln. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  25. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Awards « Frank Andersson « Wrestlers Database". Cagematch.net. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  26. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated". pwi-online.com. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
Preceded by
Anders Gärderud & Bernt Johansson		 Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
1977		 Succeeded by
Björn Borg & Ingemar Stenmark
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