Alexander Czerwinski

Biography

Alexander Czerwinski (born April 10, 1969, in Rostock) is a German actor, former judoka, World Sumo Champion, and defensive player for the American football team, the Rostock Griffins.

Czerwinski took up judo during his youth and began competing for ASK Frankfurt (Oder) in 1982. His achievements include, among others, a victory at the 1985 GDR Spartakiad in Berlin.

In 1998, he began training in sumo. One year later, he became the German national runner-up in both the heavyweight and open categories. In 2000, competing with the German national team, he won the World Sumo Championships in São Paulo and took second place at the European Championships in Kraków. He remained active as a sumotori until 2004, concluding his career with a bronze medal at the World Championships in Riesa.

In 2005, Czerwinski returned to competitive judo, achieving several international podium finishes—including silver medals at the Austrian Open, the European Games, and the Italian Open. In 2007, he placed fifth in the heavyweight division at the World Championships in Chiang Mai.

From 2008 to 2013, he played American football for the Rostock Griffins, serving as a nose tackle on the defensive squad. In 2013, he was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame; he has served as the club's president since 2023.

In 2005, he co-authored the biography Sumo-Alex with journalist Jürgen Rösler. In 2014, his life story was published under the title Sozialismus – Skinhead – Sumo (Socialism – Skinhead – Sumo).

For several years now, Alexander Czerwinski has also been active as an actor.