Gert Fredriksson

Gert Fridolf Fredriksson (21 November 1919 – 5 July 2006) was a Swedish sprint canoeist. 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.

Gert Fredriksson

Gert Fredriksson at the 1960 Olympics
Personal information
Full name	Gert Fridolf Fredriksson
Born	21 November 1919 Nyköping, Sweden
Died	5 July 2006 (aged 86) Nyköping, Sweden
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	72 kg (159 lb)
Sport
Sport	Canoe sprint
Club	Nyköpings Kanotklubb
Medal record Representing  Sweden Olympic Games 1948 London K-1 1000 m 1948 London K-1 10000 m 1952 Helsinki K-1 1000 m 1956 Melbourne K-1 1000 m 1956 Melbourne K-1 10000 m 1960 Rome K-2 1000 m 1952 Helsinki K-1 10000 m 1960 Rome K-1 1000 m World Championships 1948 London K-1 500 m 1948 London K-1 4×500 m 1950 Copenhagen K-1 1000 m 1950 Copenhagen K-1 4×500 m 1954 Mâcon K-1 500 m 1954 Mâcon K-1 1000 m 1954 Mâcon K-1 4×500 m 1950 Copenhagen K-1 10000 m 1958 Prague K-1 500 m 1958 Prague K-1 1000 m 1958 Prague K-1 4×500 m

He was the most successful male canoeist ever, having gained medals in a succession of Swedish, Nordic, World and Olympic championships from 1942 to 1960. With six gold medals Fredriksson remains the most successful Swede at the Olympics.[1]

He also won seven gold medals at the World Championships and 71 medals in the Swedish championships.[1]

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.[2]