Jan Niklas Patrik Sjöberg (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈpɑ̌ːtrɪk ˈɧø̂ːbærj]; born 5 January 1965) is a Swedish former high jumper. He broke the world record with 2.42 metres (7 ft 11.3 in) in Stockholm on 30 June 1987. This mark is still the European record and ranks him third on the world all-time list behind Javier Sotomayor and Mutaz Essa Barshim. He twice held the world indoor record holder with marks of 2.38 m (1985) and 2.41 m (1987). He was the 1987 World Champion and three-times an Olympic medallist.
![]() Patrik Sjöberg 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Jan Niklas Patrik Sjöberg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1965-01-05) 5 January 1965 (age 57) Gothenburg, Sweden | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.99 m (6 ft 6.7 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Örgryte IS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retired | 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal best(s) | 2.42 m 2.41 m (indoors) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Sjöberg was born in Gothenburg, Västra Götaland and was a member of the Örgryte IS club.
Sjöberg has a gold medal from the World Championships in Rome 1987 and has three Olympic medals: silver medals from Los Angeles 1984 and Barcelona 1992, and a bronze medal from Seoul 1988. Sjöberg is the only high jumper to have won medals in more than two Olympic Games. He won the 1985 World Indoor Games, is a four-time European Indoor champion and twice won the World Cup title.
Sjöberg received the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1985. He has inspired many later Swedish high jumpers, most notably Kajsa Bergqvist, Linus Thörnblad, Staffan Strand, and Stefan Holm. His world record of 2.42 m was broken 15 months later, when, on the eve of the Seoul Summer Olympics, Javier Sotomayor jumped 2.43 m in September 1988 at a meet in Spain.
Sjöberg competed as a celebrity dancer in Let's Dance 2014, finishing fourth.
In his 2011 autobiography, Sjöberg revealed that he had been sexually molested as a child by Viljo Nousiainen, a prominent Swedish athletics coach.[1]
He has a daughter, Isabelle.
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
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Representing ![]() | ||||
1981 | European Junior Championships | Utrecht, Netherlands | 8th | 2.16 m |
1982 | European Indoor Championships | Milan, Italy | 10th | 2.22 m |
1983 | European Indoor Championships | Budapest, Hungary | – | NM |
European Junior Championships | Schwechat, Austria | 3rd | 2.21 m | |
World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 11th | 2.23 m | |
1984 | European Indoor Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 7th | 2.24 m |
Olympic Games | Los Angeles, United States | 2nd | 2.33 m | |
1985 | World Indoor Games | Paris, France | 1st | 2.32 m |
European Indoor Championships | Piraeus, Greece | 1st | 2.35 m | |
World Cup | Canberra, Australia | 1st | 2.31 m1 | |
1986 | European Indoor Championships | Madrid, Spain | 6th | 2.24 m |
European Championships | Stuttgart, West Germany | 6th | 2.25 m | |
1987 | European Indoor Championships | Liévin, France | 1st | 2.38 m |
World Indoor Championships | Indianapolis, United States | 1st (q) | 2.24 m2 | |
World Championships | Rome, Italy | 1st | 2.38 m | |
1988 | European Indoor Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 1st | 2.39 m |
Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | 3rd | 2.36 m | |
1989 | World Indoor Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 3rd | 2.35 m |
World Cup | Barcelona, Spain | 1st | 2.34 m1 | |
1991 | World Indoor Championships | Seville, Spain | 13th | 2.24 m |
World Championships | Tokyo, Japan | 7th | 2.31 m | |
1992 | European Indoor Championships | Genoa, Italy | 1st | 2.38 m |
Olympic Games | Barcelona, Spain | 2nd | 2.34 m | |
1993 | World Indoor Championships | Toronto, Canada | 2nd | 2.39 m |
1995 | World Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 6th | 2.32 m |
1Representing Europe
2No mark in the final
Records | ||
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Preceded by![]() |
Men's High Jump World Record Holder 30 June 1987 – 8 September 1988 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by![]() |
Men's High Jump European Record Holder 30 June 1987– (shared with ![]() |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
Awards | ||
Preceded by | Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal 1985 |
Succeeded by |
Sporting positions | ||
Preceded by![]() |
Men's High Jump Best Year Performance 1987 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Men's High Jump Best Year Performance 1992 (i) |
Succeeded by |
World champions in men's high jump | |
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World Indoor Champions in men's high jump | |
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European Athletics Indoor Champions in men's high jump | |
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IAAF World / Continental Cup champions in men's high jump | |
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General | |
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National libraries | |
Other |