Gunnar Hallkvist
Encyclopedia
Gunnar Hallkvist is a former Swedish
speed skater
who competed at the 1952 Winter Olympics
in Oslo
. Competing out of Eskilstuna IK, he finished twentieth out of thirty participants in the men's 10000 metres event. He was born in Eskilstuna
and lived there until the age of 13, at which point he began displaying a talent in speed skating. He joined the national junior team at 17 and the senior squad in 1938, making his first international appearance at that year's European Speed Skating Championships for Men
. He won three national championships during World War II
and resumed international competition in 1949, attending that season's World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Men
and retiring in 1953.
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....
speed skater
Long track speed skating
Speed skating is an Olympic sport where competitors are timed while crossing a set distance. It is also a sport for leisure. Sports such as short track speedskating, inline speedskating, and quad speed skating are also called speed skating...
who competed at the 1952 Winter Olympics
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. Competing out of Eskilstuna IK, he finished twentieth out of thirty participants in the men's 10000 metres event. He was born in Eskilstuna
Eskilstuna
Eskilstuna is a city and the seat of Eskilstuna Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 60,185 inhabitants in 2005. Eskilstuna has a large Sweden Finn population....
and lived there until the age of 13, at which point he began displaying a talent in speed skating. He joined the national junior team at 17 and the senior squad in 1938, making his first international appearance at that year's European Speed Skating Championships for Men
European Speed Skating Championships for Men
The International Skating Union has organised the European Speed Skating Championships for Men since 1893. Unofficial Championships were held in the years 1891-1892.-History:-Distances used:...
. He won three national championships during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and resumed international competition in 1949, attending that season's World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Men
World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Men
The International Skating Union has organised the World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Men since 1893. Unofficial Championships were held in the years 1889-1892.-History:-Distances used:...
and retiring in 1953.