Henry Eriksson

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Henry Eriksson
Henry Eriksson (left) and Lennart Strand at the 1947 national championships
Personal information
Born23 January 1920
Krylbo, Sweden
Died8 January 2000 (aged 79)
Gävle, Sweden
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)1500 m, 5000 m
ClubGefle IF, Gävle
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)1500 m – 3:44.4 (1947)
5000 m – 14:40.2 (1947)[1]
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1948 London 1500 m
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 1946 Oslo 1500 m

Knut Henry "Krylbo" Eriksson (23 January 1920 – 8 January 2000) was a Swedish middle-distance runner who specialized in the 1500 m event. In 1946 he finished second behind Lennart Strand, both at the national and European Championships. On 15 July 1947, at the national championships at Malmö, Eriksson and Strand had a very close 1500 m race. Strand won, equaling the world record at 3:43.0, and Eriksson finished second, setting his all-time personal best at 3:44.4. Eriksson beat Strand at the 1948 Swedish Championships and at the 1948 Summer Olympics. He retired the same year and returned to his work as a fireman.[2][3][4]

Eriksson was one of the three Olympic Flame lighters of the 1956 Summer Olympics equestrian events at Stockholm. He held a world record in the 4 × 1500 m relay, together with three other fireman from his athletics club in Gävle.[2][4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Henry Eriksson. trackfield.brinkster.net
  2. ^ a b Henry Eriksson Archived 29 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  3. ^ Henry Eriksson. storagrabbar.se
  4. ^ a b Henry Eriksson. Swedish Olympic Committee