 In 1926 he won his first European title and established himself as a world top featherweight and later lightweight wrestler.He missed the 1932 Olympics because Estonia did not send a team due to the Great Depression, and finished out of the podium at the 1933, 1934, 1937 and 1938 European Championships; however, he earned a bronze at the 1936 Olympics.Domestically he won 19 titles between 1922 and 1942 in Greco-Roman and freestyle events.