John Mikaelsson

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John Mikaelsson

John Fredrik Mikaelsson (born December 6, 1913 in Kristinehamn , † June 16, 1987 in Placer County , California ) was a Swedish walker and Olympic champion .

After the Second World War, Sweden was the strongest athletics nation, at least in Europe. While in most other countries the sports facilities had to be rebuilt and the food situation in many countries was critical as a result of the war, in Sweden sports continued during the World War and the athletes did not have to interrupt their training.

And so Sweden clearly led the medal table at the European Championships in 1946 with eleven gold medals. The Swedish walkers were also top of the world at that time. In the 50-km walk won John Ljunggren , in the 10,000-meter track Go won Mikaelsson.

At the Olympic Games in 1948 , the Swedish athletes were not as successful as in 1946 because of the participation of non-European nations - especially the USA - but Ljunggren and Mikaelsson were both Olympic champions on their routes.

At the European Championships in 1950 Mikaelsson won the bronze medal behind the Swiss Fritz Schwab and Émile Maggi from France. At the Olympic Games in 1952 , Mikaelsson was defeated in qualifying by Bruno Junk from the Soviet Union with an Olympic record, which rose to become the favorites for the final. In the final, Mikaelsson regained the Olympic record and won in 45: 02.8 minutes ahead of Schwab and Junk.

From 1936 to 1945 John Mikaelsson set sixteen world records for walking on the short tracks.

Top performances

  • 3000 meters walking by train: 12: 19.0 min (1942)
  • 5000 meters by train: 20: 55.8 min (1942)
  • 10,000 meters walk: 42: 52.4 min (1945)
  • 20 km street walking: 1:31:44 h (1945)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Mikaelsson, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mikaelsson, John Fredrik
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swedish athlete
DATE OF BIRTH December 6, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Kristinehamn
DATE OF DEATH June 16, 1987
Place of death Placer County