Norway

Norway  is a Nordic country in Northern Europe whose mainland territory comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula; Mainland Norway and the remote island of Jan Mayen as well as the archipelago of Svalbard form Metropolitan Norway. Norway has a total area of 385,207 square kilometres (148,729 sq mi) and a population of 5,312,300 (as of August 2018). The maritime influence also dominates Norway's climate with mild lowland temperatures on the sea coasts, whereas the interior, while colder, is also a lot milder than areas elsewhere in the world on such northerly latitudes. Even during polar night in the north, temperatures above freezing are commonplace on the coastline. The maritime influence brings high rainfall and snowfall to some areas of the country. Norwegians are an ethnic North Germanic people. Since the late 20th century, Norway has attracted immigrants from southern and central Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and beyond.

Sports in Norway

Sports are a central part of Norwegian culture, and popular sports include association football, handball, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, speed skating, and, to a lesser degree, ice hockey. Association football is the most popular sport in Norway in terms of active membership. In 2014–2015 polling, football ranked far behind biathlon and cross-country skiing in terms of popularity as spectator sports. Ice hockey is the biggest indoor sport. The women's handball national team has won several titles, including two Summer Olympics.

Despite some injuries Morten Thoresen became European Champion.

Wrestling in Norway

Wrestling means in Norwegian: Bryting The Norwegian Wrestling Association is thus called: Norges Bryteforbund The Norwegian Wrestling Federation has a long tradition and was founded in 1913. The association organizes competitions in the Greco/ Roman style, freestyle, sumo and, as a specialty, arm wrestling (called Hanbak in Norway). The association has 54 clubs with 7000 members. The current president is Mr. Tom Holmen from Kolbotn. In Scandinavia, the Greco / Roman style has always been more popular than freestyle.

International successfull norwegian wrestlers: Fritz Aanes, Martin Hamlet Nielsen and Stig Andre Berge.

International Situation:

Although Norway is a relatively small national wrestling federation, the country has already had some great successes on the international wrestling mat. Norway's first Olympic medal was won by Jakob Gundersen in 1908. In the eighties the Rønningen brothers were absolute world class wrestlers in the greco / roman style. Jon Rønningen was even double Olympic champion (1988 in Seoul and 1992 in Barcelona). He is the absolute Norwegian wrestling idol. The Norwegians were among the first nations to practice female wrestling. In the early 1990s, the level of female wrestling was nowhere near as high as it is today. In the early years of international women's wrestling, the Norwegian women were able to win 11 world championship titles. Gudrun Høie dominated for years and came up with four world titles. The Norwegian Wrestling Association currently has good international wrestlers in the greco / roman style with Stig Andre Berge and Martin Hamlet Nielsen, Felix Baldauf and Morten Thoresen.

Double Olympic Champion: Jon Ronningen





International Success

Olympic Games

Youth Olympic Games

World Championships

European Championships

The most successfull wrestlers of norway:

Jon Rønningen (2x Olympic Champ, 1x Worldchamp, 1x European Champ)
Lars Rønningen (1x Vice Worldchamp -, 1x WC Bronce, 2x European Champ)
Gudrun Høie (4x Worldchamp)
Line Johansen (2x Worldchamp)
Ine Barlie (2x Worldchamp)
Anne Holten (2x Worldchamp )
Anne Marie Halvorsen (1x Worldchamp)
Stig Andre Berge (1x Olympic Brone, 1x WC Bronce, 3x Vice European Champ)
Felix Baldauf (1xJunior European Champ, 1x European Champ)
Grace Bullen (1x Gold Youth Olympic Games, 2x European Champ )

National Situation:

As in all Scandinavian countries in Norway, men practiced almost exclusively the greco / roman style. Freestyle wrestling is only practiced by women, as this is also done internationally. The Norwegians were among the first nations in which the female wrestling sport was practiced. The Norwegian women were able to celebrate many successes in the early years of international women's wrestling. The stronghold of the wrestling sport is in Kolbotn. Kolbotn has 6000 inhabitants and is 13 km south of the center of the state capital Oslo. The Kolbotn Idrettslag sports club, one of the largest in the country with 4,000 members. Club member was the two-time Olympic champion (1988 and 1992) in the Greco-Roman wrestling Jon Rønningen. In 1985 the wrestling world championships were held in Kolbotn. Jon Rønningen was able to win the world title in his hometown.

Best Wrestling Clubs: Kolbotn IL, Oslo BK, AK Kristiansund, Lambertseter BK and Narvik BK.

Wrestling Clubs in Norway

 
The Ronningens

Norways Wrestling Federation

Norges Bryteforbund
Serviceboks 1,
Ullevål Stadion,
0840 Oslo

Homepage:
http://www.bryting.no/
 

Sognsveien 75 L
0855 Oslo

bryting@nif.idrett.no,
(+47) 951 64 518

President: Tom Holmen