Fredrik Svanström

Aadolf Fredrik Svanström (3 December 1885 – 17 April 1959) was a Finnish middle-distance runner, who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.

Fredrik Svanström
Fredrik Svanström circa 1908
Personal information
Full nameAadolf Fredrik Svanström
Nickname(s)Fred
National teamFinland
Born(1885-12-03)3 December 1885
Pargas, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
Died17 April 1959(1959-04-17) (aged 73)
Helsinki, Finland
Alma materUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hanover
OccupationVeterinary physician, veterinary colonel
Spouse(s)Paula Hakulinen
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event(s)Middle-distance running
Club
  • Helsingin Unitas
  • Turun Urheiluliitto

Athletics

Olympics
Fredrik Svanström at the Olympic Games
Games Event Time Rank Notes
1908 Summer Olympics 800 metres, heats Did not finish Official records say he did not finish, but Finnish records say he placed 5th in heat[1], with time 2:04.6[2]
1500 metres, heats 4:25.2 3rd in heat Did not advance[3]

Other

He won the Finnish national championship gold in 1500 metres in 1907.[4][5]

He broke a few Finnish records in middle-distance running, but only one of them was ratified:

  • 1000 metres with the time 2:38.2 in Braunschweig, German Empire, in 1907. However, before 1923 only races in Finland were ratified as national records.[6]
  • 1500 metres, 4:22.0, Turku, 1 September 1907. Was ratified.[7]
  • Mile, 4:38.8, Stockholm, Sweden, 14 September 1907. Not ratified.[7]
  • 1500 metres, 4:19.6, Stockholm, Sweden, 15 September 1907. Not ratified.[7]

He was a German Hochschule track and field champion in 1500 metres in 1907–1909.[8]

Career

He completed his matriculation exam in Turku Swedish Real Lyceum in 1906. He graduated as a veterinary physician from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover in 1911.[8]

He was the municipal veterinarian of Pargas from 1911 to 1918, when he was hired by the Finnish Defence Forces.[9][8]

He made trips to import weapons for the White Guard in 1917–1918 and fought in the Finnish Civil War. He completed the veterinary officer's course in 1918.[8] He was the chief of the remount section under the Ministry of Defence during the Winter War.[10] He was the chief of the veterinary materiel office during the Continuation War.[11]

He retired from the military with the rank veterinary colonel in 1945, and continued working as a foodstuff hygienist and an official veterinarian for a further 13 years.[12]

Accolades

He was made an honorary member of the Finnish Veterinary Association in 1951.[12]

He received the following medals:[8]

Family

His parents were sea captain Gustav Adolf Svanström and Matilda Carolina Hallberg. His wife was Paula Hakulinen.[8]

Sources
  • Siukonen, Markku (2001). Urheilukunniamme puolustajat. Suomen olympiaedustajat 1906–2000. Suuri olympiateos (in Finnish). 12. Jyväskylä: Graface. p. 324. ISBN 951-98673-1-7.

References
  1. Laitinen, Esa (1993). Suomen yleisurheilu 1908 (in Finnish). p. 1. ISBN 952-904620-0.
  2. Hannus, Matti (1999). Kultaiset kentät. Suomen yleisurheilun vuosisata (in Finnish). Porvoo: WSOY. p. 92. ISBN 9510237035.
  3. Mallon, Bill; Buchanan, Ian (2001). The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, With Commentary. Jefferson, North Carolina, United States: McFarland. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-7864-0598-5.
  4. Hannus, Matti; Laitinen, Esa; Martiskainen, Seppo (2002). Kalevan kisat, Kalevan malja — vuosisata yleisurheilun Suomen mestaruuksia (in Finnish). Lahti: Suomen urheiluliiton julkaisut. p. 189. ISBN 951-96491-5-8.
  5. Laitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki: Finnish Amateur Athletic Association. p. 329.
  6. Laitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki: Finnish Amateur Athletic Association. p. 568.
  7. Laitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki. p. 569.
  8. Hämeen-Anttila, Y. S., ed. (1933). Puolustusvoimiemme upseeristo ja virkamiehistö 1934 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. p. 481.
  9. Cederlöf, Johannes (1967). Pargasbygdens historia (in Swedish). III. Pargas: Pargasbygdens historiekommitté. p. 156.
  10. Sotatieteen laitoksen sotahistorian toimisto, ed. (1979). Talvisodan historia. 4. Sodasta rauhaan, puolustushaarat ja eräät erityisalat. Sotatieteen laitoksen julkaisuja (in Finnish). Porvoo, Helsinki, Juva: WSOY. p. 292. ISBN 9510081493. ISSN 0355-8002.
  11. Tirronen, E. O. (1975). Sotatieteen laitoksen sotahistorian toimisto (ed.). Suomen sota 1941–1945. 11. osa. Sotatalous. Sotatieteen laitoksen sotahistorian toimiston julkaisuja (in Finnish). Porvoo: WSOY. p. 45. ISBN 9510073741.
  12. Helminen, Katri (2017). "Fredrik Swanströmin jännittävä elämä" (PDF). Suomen eläinlääkärilehti. Suomen eläinlääkäriliiton jäsenlehti (in Finnish). Helsinki: Suomen eläinlääkäriliitto. 123 (7): 398–399. ISSN 0039-5501. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.