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 at the 1960 Olympics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
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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]
Year | Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
1946–1955 | K-1 500 m | 2 | ||
K-1 1000 m | 5 | |||
K-1 10000 m | 5 | |||
K-1 4×500 m relay | 5 | |||
Total | 17 |
Year | Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
1942–1960 | K-1 500 m | 1 | 1 | |
K-1 1000 m | 16 | 1 | 1 | |
K-1 10000 m | 15 | 1 | ||
Total | 32 | 2 | 2 |
Preceded by | Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal 1949 |
Succeeded by Lennart Bergelin |
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Olympic Champions in Men's discontinued kayak events | |
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K-1 10000 metres |
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K-2 10000 metres |
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K-1 10000 metres folding |
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K-2 10000 metres folding |
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K-1 4x500 metre relay |
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World Champions in Men's Canoe Sprint K-1 500 m | |
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World Champions in Men's Canoe Sprint K-1 1000 m | |
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World Champions in Men's Canoe Sprint K-1 4 x 500 m relay | |
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