Born: 15 December 1919

Deceased: 1 January 1998

Birthplace: Stockholm (Sweden)

Nationality: Sweden

Sport: Skating

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

St. Moritz 1948

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 1

Silver: 1

Other results:

World Championships

Bronze: 1 (47)

European Championships

Gold: 1 (47)

OVERCOMING UNEXPECTED OBSTACLES

Speed skater Åke Seyffarth set a world record of 8:13.7 for 5,000m in 1941 and broke the 3,000m world record the following year. In 1943, Seyffarth, who was also one of Sweden's leading cyclists, was badly injured during a dirt-bike race in 1943. He did a somersault through the air, hit his head against a concrete pillar and was unconscious for 24 hours. Seyffarth won the overall title at the 1947 European speed skating championships, the first international event to be held after World War II. When the Olympics began again in 1948 after a twelve-year gap, Seyffarth's 1941 5,000m world record was still in the books. At the St. Moritz Games, his chances for a medal in the 5,000m were severely disrupted when he brushed against a photographer who jumped onto the ice to take a picture. Seyffarth lost precious seconds and ended up in seventh place. Two days later, he made up for his disappointment by winning the 10,000m by 9.7 seconds.