Other names: FREDRIKSSON, Gert Fridolf

Born: 21 November 1919

Deceased: 5 July 2006

Birthplace: Nyköping (Sweden)

Nationality: Sweden

Sport: Canoe / Kayak

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

London 1948

Helsinki 1952

Melbourne / Stockholm 1956

Rome 1960

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 6

Silver: 1

Bronze: 1

Other results:

World Championships

Gold: 4 (48, 50, 54)

Silver: 1 (58)

Bronze: 1 (58)

The Greatest Men's Canoeist

Competing between 1948 and 1960, Gert Fredriksson was the most successful male canoeist in Olympic history. His first triumph came at the 1948 London Games when he won the kayak singles 10,000m, an event that has since been discontinued. His margin of victory, 30.5 seconds, was the largest in the history of the sport.

The following day, Fredriksson won the kayak singles 1,000m by 6.7 seconds, which remains the most decisive Olympic canoeing victory in an event other than the 10,000m. He was so dominant that he casually waited in fourth place until 50m from the finish line, before sprinting into the lead.

At the 1952 Helsinki Games, Fredriksson picked up a silver medal at 10,000m and then successfully defended his championship in the K-1 1,000. Racing at Ballarat in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Fredriksson won the 10,000m the last time that the event was included in the Olympic programme and then won a third straight gold medal in the K-1 1,000.

Competing at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Fredriksson earned a bronze medal in the K-1 1,000 and closed out his Olympic career by teaming with Sven-Olov Sjödelius to win the kayak pairs 1,000m. Four years later, Fredriksson returned to the Olympics as the coach of the Swedish team.