Ake Seyffarth
(IOC)
Updated: 2007-07-26 09:43
Saint-Moritz, 3 February 1948: Ake SEYFFARTH of Sweden, gold medallist, in action in the speed skating 10000m event during the V Olympic Winter Games. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections
Born: 15 December 1919
Deceased: 1 January 1998
Birthplace: Stockholm (Sweden)
Nationality: Sweden
Sport: Skating
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
St. Moritz 1948
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 1
Silver: 1
Other results:
World Championships
Bronze: 1 (47)
European Championships
Gold: 1 (47)
OVERCOMING UNEXPECTED OBSTACLES
Speed skater ?ke Seyffarth set a world record of 8:13.7 for 5,000m in 1941 and broke the 3,000m world record the following year. In 1943, Seyffarth, who was also one of Sweden's leading cyclists, was badly injured during a dirt-bike race in 1943. He did a somersault through the air, hit his head against a concrete pillar and was unconscious for 24 hours. Seyffarth won the overall title at the 1947 European speed skating championships, the first international event to be held after World War II. When the Olympics began again in 1948 after a twelve-year gap, Seyffarth's 1941 5,000m world record was still in the books. At the St. Moritz Games, his chances for a medal in the 5,000m were severely disrupted when he brushed against a photographer who jumped onto the ice to take a picture. Seyffarth lost precious seconds and ended up in seventh place. Two days later, he made up for his disappointment by winning the 10,000m by 9.7 seconds.
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