Patrik Sjöberg
Encyclopedia
Jan Niklas Patrik Sjöberg (born 5 January 1965 in Gothenburg
, Västra Götaland) is a former Swedish
high jump
er and previous world record
holder. With 2.42 metre, he holds the Swedish as well as the European record in men's high jump. His 1987 world record 2.42m - set in Stockholm on 30 June 1987 - is the best jump in history for anyone who has not tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, as Javier Sotomayor
tested positive for nandrolone
. However, Sotomayor bettered that mark outdoors three times (1988, 1989 and 1993) and he did not test positive on any of those occasions. Sjöberg is also a two-time world indoor record holder with marks of 2.38 m (1985) and 2.41 m (1987). In 1989, he underwent Achilles tendon
surgery and his career went downhill.
Sjöberg has a gold medal from the World Championships in Rome 1987
and has 3 olympic medals. Two silver medals from Los Angeles 1984
and Barcelona 1992
and one bronze medal from Seuol 1988
. Sjöberg is the only high jumper that has won medals from more than two olympic games.
Sjöberg received the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
in 1985. He has inspired many later Swedish high jumpers, most notably Kajsa Bergqvist
, Linus Thornblad
, Staffan Strand
, and Stefan Holm
. His world record of 2.42 m was broken one year later, when, on the eve of the Seoul Summer Olympics, Javier Sotomayor
jumped 2.43 m in September 1988 at a meet in Spain.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Västra Götaland) is a former 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....
high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
er and previous world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
holder. With 2.42 metre, he holds the Swedish as well as the European record in men's high jump. His 1987 world record 2.42m - set in Stockholm on 30 June 1987 - is the best jump in history for anyone who has not tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, as Javier Sotomayor
Javier Sotomayor
Javier Sotomayor Sanabria is a Cuban former track and field athlete who specialized in the high jump and is the current world record holder. The 1992 Olympic champion, he was the dominant high jumper of the 1990s; he is the only person ever to have cleared 8 feet . He is widely regarded as the...
tested positive for nandrolone
Nandrolone
Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body, albeit in minute quantities of less than 0.4 ng/ml. Nandrolone is most commonly sold commercially as its decanoate ester and less commonly as a phenylpropionate ester...
. However, Sotomayor bettered that mark outdoors three times (1988, 1989 and 1993) and he did not test positive on any of those occasions. Sjöberg is also a two-time world indoor record holder with marks of 2.38 m (1985) and 2.41 m (1987). In 1989, he underwent Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
surgery and his career went downhill.
Sjöberg has a gold medal from the World Championships in Rome 1987
1987 World Championships in Athletics
The 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy between August 28 and September 6, 1987.-Track:1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995...
and has 3 olympic medals. Two silver medals from Los Angeles 1984
Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics
At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, 41 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 17 by women. There were a total number of 1273 participating athletes from 124 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:...
and Barcelona 1992
Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, 43 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 19 by women. The competition ran from July 31, 1992 to August 9, 1992. Fourteen world record-holders were among the contenders...
and one bronze medal from Seuol 1988
Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics
At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul a total number of 42 events in athletics were contested: 24 by men and 18 by women. There were a total number of 1617 participating athletes from 149 countries.-Men's events:...
. Sjöberg is the only high jumper that has won medals from more than two olympic games.
Sjöberg received 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 1985. He has inspired many later Swedish high jumpers, most notably Kajsa Bergqvist
Kajsa Bergqvist
Kajsa Margareta Bergqvist is a Swedish former high jumper. She won one bronze medal in the Olympic Games, one gold and two bronze medals in the World Championships in Athletics and one gold and one bronze in the European Championships. Her personal outdoor record of 2.06 m, set in Germany in 2003,...
, Linus Thornblad
Linus Thörnblad
Linus Thörnblad is a Swedish athlete competing in high jump. He won the bronze medal at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships.Thörnblad started high jumping at age 16 jumping 2.06 m his first year. Two years later he jumped 2.30 m....
, Staffan Strand
Staffan Strand
Staffan Bo Strand is a Swedish former high jumper. He currently lives in Norrmalm in Stockholm with his wife since 2004 Tiffany.-Career:...
, and Stefan Holm
Stefan Holm
Stefan Christian Holm is a retired Swedish high jumper. He has won an Olympic gold medal, a silver in the World Championships, and one silver and one bronze medal in the European Championships...
. His world record of 2.42 m was broken one year later, when, on the eve of the Seoul Summer Olympics, Javier Sotomayor
Javier Sotomayor
Javier Sotomayor Sanabria is a Cuban former track and field athlete who specialized in the high jump and is the current world record holder. The 1992 Olympic champion, he was the dominant high jumper of the 1990s; he is the only person ever to have cleared 8 feet . He is widely regarded as the...
jumped 2.43 m in September 1988 at a meet in Spain.
Medals
- 1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships1993 IAAF World Indoor ChampionshipsThe 4th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Skydome in Toronto, Canada from March 12 to March 14, 1993. It was the last Indoor Championships to feature the 5,000 and 3,000 metres race walk events. In addition, it was the first Indoor Championships to include heptathlon and...
- Silver medal - 1992 Summer OlympicsAthletics at the 1992 Summer OlympicsAt the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, 43 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 19 by women. The competition ran from July 31, 1992 to August 9, 1992. Fourteen world record-holders were among the contenders...
- Silver medal - 1992 European Indoor Championships - Gold medal
- 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships1989 IAAF World Indoor ChampionshipsThe 2nd IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Budapest Sportcsarnok in Budapest, Hungary from March 3 to March 5, 1989. There were a total number of 373 participating athletes from 62 countries.-Men:1985 | 1987 | 1989 | 1991 | 1993...
- Bronze medal - 1988 Summer OlympicsAthletics at the 1988 Summer OlympicsAt the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul a total number of 42 events in athletics were contested: 24 by men and 18 by women. There were a total number of 1617 participating athletes from 149 countries.-Men's events:...
- Bronze medal - 1988 European Indoor Championships - Gold medal
- 1987 World Championships in Athletics1987 World Championships in AthleticsThe 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy between August 28 and September 6, 1987.-Track:1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995...
- Gold medal - 1987 European Indoor Championships - Gold medal
- 1985 European Indoor Championships - Gold medal
- 1985 IAAF World Indoor Championships - Gold medal
- 1984 Summer OlympicsAthletics at the 1984 Summer OlympicsAt the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, 41 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 17 by women. There were a total number of 1273 participating athletes from 124 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:...
- Silver medal
Further reading
- Sjöberg, Patrik: Att Leva på Hoppet. Sportförlaget i Europa AB. ISBN 9188540480.