Famous life · 1920
Alfred Neuland, the strong man of Valga
Alfred Neuland was born in Valga on 10 October 1895, the fifth of seven children. The family moved to Riga, where the weak, sickly boy built up his strength and shocked the old lifters of the Mars sports club. After the First World War and the War of Independence he led Estonia's weightlifters at a training camp in Tondi barracks. At the 1920 Antwerp Olympics he won gold and became the first Olympic champion of the Republic of Estonia. In 1922 he became world champion on the stage of the Estonia concert hall in Tallinn. From 1921 to 1940 he lived in his home town of Valga as a businessman and coach.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Alfred Neuland sündis Valgas 10. oktoobril 1895 seitsmelapselise pere viienda lapsena. Pere kolis Riiga, kus kehva tervisega poiss ennast tugevaks treenis ja üllatas spordiseltsis Mars isegi vanu tõstjaid. Pärast Esimest maailmasõda ja Vabadussõda juhendas ta Tondi kasarmutes olümpiamängudeks valmistuvaid Eesti tõstjaid. 1920. aasta Antwerpeni olümpiamängudel võitis ta kulla ja sai Eesti Vabariigi esimeseks olümpiavõitjaks. 1922. aastal tuli ta Tallinnas Estonia kontserdisaali laval maailmameistriks. Aastatel 1921–1940 elas ta oma kodulinnas Valgas, olles ärimees, treener ja kohtunik.