John Mikaelsson

John Frederik Mikaelsson (6 December 1913 – 16 June 1987) was a Swedish race walker who competed at two Olympic Games.^[1][2]

John Mikaelsson

Personal information
Born	6 December 1913 Kristinehamn, Sweden
Died	16 June 1987 (aged 73) Placer County, California, United States
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	73 kg (161 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	10 km walk
Club	IFK Kristinehamn (1932–38) Sundbybergs IK (1939–42) Västerås SK (1943–44) Stockholms GK 1945–52
Achievements and titles
Personal best	42:52.4 (1945)[1]
Medal record Representing  Sweden Olympic Games 1948 London 10 km walk 1952 Helsinki 10 km walk European Championships 1946 Oslo 10 km walk 1950 Brussels 10 km walk

Biography

Mikaelsson won the British AAA Championships title in the 7 miles event at the 1937 AAA Championships^[3][4][5] and the 1938 AAA Championships^[6][7] but his career was then interrupted by World War II.

He set 14 European and world records in various events. He was most successful over 10 km distance, winning a European title in 1946. Mikaelsson competed domestically in running, skiing, orienteering, handball and football.^[2]

At the 1948 Summer Olympics in London he won the gold medal in the men's 10 kilometres walk competition and four years later successfully defended his title by winning the 10 km walk at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.^[8]