Biography.guide
Home › People › Amateur wrestler › John Kinsela
Portrait of John Kinsela

John Kinsela

1950 – 2020

Olympic wrestler

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About John Kinsela

Lived 1950 – 2020 (aged 70). John Kinsela was an Australian amateur wrestler and military personnel.

John Francis Kinsela (27 May 1949 – 9 November 2020) was an Australian indigenous wrestler who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics and in the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Kinsela was born in the inner-Sydney neighbourhood of Surry Hills, New South Wales, his father a Wiradjuri and his mother Jawoyn. He grew up in the neighbouring suburb of Redfern, New South Wales. At the age of 14 Kinsela left school to work in a sock factory.

Between the Mexico City and Munich Olympic Games, Kinsela was conscripted into the Australian Army, serving in the Royal Australian Artillery. In 1970 Kinsela was sent to the Vietnam War with 106 Battery, 4th Field Regiment at Nui Dat. After his retirement from wrestling, Kinsela rejoined the Australian Army serving in the 1st Commando Regiment for six years. Kinsela excelled as a Commando, winning the "Commando of the Year" award in 1981.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Awards
Medal of the Order of Australia
Also known as
John Francis Kinsela, John Kinsella

People in John Kinsela's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Kinsela's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Kinsela?

Olympic wrestler (1950-2020)

When was John Kinsela born?

John Kinsela was born on 27 May 1950 in Surry Hills.

When did John Kinsela die?

John Kinsela died on 9 November 2020.

What was John Kinsela's occupation?

John Kinsela was an amateur wrestler and military personnel.

What nationality was John Kinsela?

John Kinsela was Australian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Kinsela

· Wikidata: Q16145390

· DBpedia: John Kinsela

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Kinsela. https://biography.guide/john-kinsela/

MLA: "John Kinsela." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-kinsela/.

Chicago: "John Kinsela." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-kinsela/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:31 UTC