James Michael Armstrong (14 July 1917 – 8 July 1981) was a great Australian sport wrestler and rugby league player. In wrestling, he won a bronze medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics, a gold medal at the 1950 British Empire Games and a bronze medal at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. He represented South Sydney, New South Wales and Australia in a nine-year top-level rugby league career. Armstrong served as an officer in the New South Wales Police Force, retiring at the rank of inspector.
Jim Armstrong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 14 July 1917[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 8 July 1981 (aged 63)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Australian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Big Jim | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Rugby league career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Rugby League Project | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editHe was born in Albury, New South Wales, and was educated in Junee and Wagga Wagga. He joined the New South Wales Police Force at the age of 20.[2]
Rugby league career
editArmstrong played for Waratahs in Wagga Wagga before moving to Sydney with the police force. In Sydney, Armstrong joined South Sydney, where he made his first grade debut in 1939.[3][4]
Armstrong was selected to play for Australia against Great Britain as a front row forward in the third and deciding Ashes test in 1946, becoming Kangaroo No. 233.[5]
Wrestling career
editHe won a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling, heavyweight class, at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.[1][6]
At the 1950 British Empire Games Armstrong won the heavyweight wrestling gold medal.[7]
At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Armstrong won the light heavyweight wrestling bronze medal.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Jim Armstrong". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- ^ "Junee's Effort to Send Wrestling Champion to Olympic Games". The Daily Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 2 April 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 29 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Waratahs lose Armstrong". The Daily Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 7 July 1938. p. 7. Retrieved 29 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Former Waratah forward – Great success in Sydney". The Daily Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 31 May 1939. p. 8. Retrieved 29 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Australian Kangaroos Player Register" (PDF). 2013 Annual Report. National Rugby League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- ^ "Rugby league". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 July 1981. p. 27. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Olympian and father figure". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 July 1981. p. 12. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
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