Henry Eriksson
Swedish middle-distance runner
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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]
Henry Eriksson (left) and Lennart Strand at the 1947 national championships | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 23 January 1920 Krylbo, Sweden | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 8 January 2000 (aged 79) Gävle, Sweden | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | 1500 m, 5000 m | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Gefle IF, Gävle | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 1500 m – 3:44.4 (1947) 5000 m – 14:40.2 (1947)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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]
