Gunder Hägg

Gunder Hägg ( born December 31, 1918 in Albacken, Jämtland County Province; † November 27, 2004 in Malmö) was a Swedish athlete.

Hägg in the 1940s was one of the dominant middle and long distance runner in the world. Between 1941 and 1945 he set 16 world records. Hägg held at that time all records on the lines of 1500 meters to 5000 meters.

At the age of sixteen he began running training and two years later he was one of the world-class runners. He trained exclusively in forests on soft natural surfaces and in snow in order to spare his tendons. On dirt tracks he just ran in competitions.

On September 20, 1942 Hägg was the first man on the 5000 - meter track under 14 minutes and was, ten seconds faster than the previous record holder. He was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal - and with the Sportsman of the Year Award from the Associated Press for this service. It was not until twelve years later, this record of Emil Zatopek was undercut. Because of the war Hägg could never participate in the Olympic Games.

Hägg, known in Sweden as " miracle - Gunder ," has been banned in 1946 for life. He was accused of accepting money from operators for takeoffs at sports events.

He worked as a lumberjack, fireman, Tie seller and seller of ladies' hats and wrote the way memory books that have been translated into German. His last autobiography appeared in 1987. He lived in the last years withdrawn near the southern Swedish city of Malmo.

Interesting facts about Hägg

Gunder Hägg

• Was the first under 14 minutes over 5000m;
• Was eleven years and eight months world record holder over 5000m, longer than any other;
• Was the only runner in addition to the Finn Paavo Nurmi, who broke all the world records from 1500m to 5000m;
• Had achieved the six fastest times two miles and five of the six fastest 3000m times in eleven different races at the end of his career;
• Was in his short international career over 1500m, 1 mile, 3000m and 5000m total of 10 times the world's annual Best;
• Had run to the end of the 45's season three of the four best times in the world combined leaderboard over 1500m and the mile.

Curious thing

A successful Swedish band from the leftist Progg movement was in the late 1960s, the name " Gunder Hägg ," allowed him, however, after a dispute and therefore reserve the right not baptized in 1972 in Tåget Blå ( The blue train ) to.