- Henry Eriksson
Knut Henry Eriksson (
January 23 ,1920 –January 8 ,2000 ) was a Swedish athlete, winner of 1500 m at the1948 Summer Olympics .All through his running career, Henry Eriksson was overshadowed by his fellow countryman
Lennart Strand , except in only and most important occasion at theLondon Olympic Games .Eriksson made his first international appearance at the 1946 European Championships in
Oslo , finishing second in 1500 m, behind Strand. OnJuly 15 ,1947 , in the Swedish National Championships atMalmö , Eriksson and Strand had a very close 1500 m race, which Strand won with a newworld record of 3:43.0. Eriksson was second in time of 3:44.4, and that would remain his personal best in that distance.At London, the main favourites to the 1500 m Olympic gold were Swedes Strand, Eriksson and
Gösta Bergkvist . In the Olympic final the conditions were perhaps not the best. The race itself started in heavy rain and on a sodden track. After one kilometer, Eriksson and Strand picked up the speed and swept past the rest of the field. With 400 m to go they were convert|15|yd ahead ofWim Slijkhuis ofNetherlands . Coming out of the last curve, Strand tried to pass Eriksson but didn't manage to get past his rival. Eriksson was a good four yards clear to win in 3:49.8.Eriksson was one of the three
Olympic Flame lighters of the1956 Summer Olympics equestrian events atStockholm .
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