Gert Fredriksson
Encyclopedia
Gert Fridolf Fredriksson (November 21, 1919, in Nyköping
, Södermanland
, – July 5, 2006) was a Swedish
sprint canoer
who competed from 1942 to 1964. Competing in four Summer Olympics, he won eight medals including six golds (1948
: K-1 1000 m, K-1 10000 m; 1952
: K-1 1000 m, 1956
: K-1 1000 m, K-1 10000 m; 1960
: K-2 1000 m), one silver (1952: K-1 10000 m), and one bronze (K-1 1000 m). At the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
, Fredriksson was head coach of the Swedish team.
He was the most successful male canoeist ever, having gained medals in a succession of Swedish, Nordic, World and Olympic championships from 1942 - 1960. Fredriksson remains the most successful Swede at the Olympics, winning six gold medals at four Olympics. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/OtherSports/2006/07/06/1671278-ap.html
He also won seven gold medals at the World Championships and 71 medals in the Swedish championships. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/OtherSports/2006/07/06/1671278-ap.html
Fredriksson was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
in 1949. In 1956 he was awarded the Mohammad Taher trophy by the International Olympic Committee as the number one sportsman in the world, the only canoeist to be presented with this trophy.
Nyköping
Nyköping is a locality and the seat of Nyköping Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 32,427 inhabitants in 2005. The city is also the capital of Södermanland County.- History :...
, Södermanland
Södermanland
', sometimes referred to under its Latin form Sudermannia or Sudermania, is a historical province or landskap on the south eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Östergötland, Närke, Västmanland and Uppland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea.In Swedish, the province name is...
, – July 5, 2006) was a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
sprint canoer
Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
who competed from 1942 to 1964. Competing in four Summer Olympics, he won eight medals including six golds (1948
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
: K-1 1000 m, K-1 10000 m; 1952
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
: K-1 1000 m, 1956
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
: K-1 1000 m, K-1 10000 m; 1960
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
: K-2 1000 m), one silver (1952: K-1 10000 m), and one bronze (K-1 1000 m). At the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Fredriksson was head coach of the Swedish team.
He was the most successful male canoeist ever, having gained medals in a succession of Swedish, Nordic, World and Olympic championships from 1942 - 1960. Fredriksson remains the most successful Swede at the Olympics, winning six gold medals at four Olympics. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/OtherSports/2006/07/06/1671278-ap.html
He also won seven gold medals at the World Championships and 71 medals in the Swedish championships. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/OtherSports/2006/07/06/1671278-ap.html
Fredriksson was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
The Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal is an annual award "for the most significant Swedish sports achievement of the year". It has been awarded by a jury led by the Swedish morning paper Svenska Dagbladet since 1925. According to its statutes the Medal may be awarded in November or December to either...
in 1949. In 1956 he was awarded the Mohammad Taher trophy by the International Olympic Committee as the number one sportsman in the world, the only canoeist to be presented with this trophy.
| Year | Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1946-1955 | K-1 500 m | 2 | ||
| K-1 1000 m | 5 | |||
| K-1 10000 m | 5 | |||
| K-1 4 x 500 m relay | 5 | |||
| Total | 17 |
| Year | Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1942-1960 | K-1 500 m | 1 | 1 | |
| K-1 1000 m | 16 | 1 | 1 | |
| K-1 10000 m | 15 | 1 | ||
| Total | 32 | 2 | 2 |