Profiles: John Rigby, MBE

John Rigby has devoted his life to wrestling

Although catch-as-catch-can struggles to survive in its Lancashire homeland, without people like John Rigby it may not have survived at all.

John has devoted his life to the sport he loves and has trained countless generations at the Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club.

John himself was lucky enough to have learned the art of Catch from the likes of Bolton’s Johnny Nelson – who represented Britain in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Although never a top competitor himself, John’s tireless dedication helped the historic Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club survive – a club that is living proof of the evolution of the sport of Olympic Freestyle Wrestling from the traditional style of Catch.

John helped coachCommonwealth Gold Winner Brian Aspen and top rated modern wrestler, Mark Cocker.

Now in his eighties, John is still known to take to the mat to show some of the old techniques that people have forgotten.

In the 1990s John was awarded an MBE for his services to the sport.

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