Arne Andersson

Arne Andersson (27 October 1917 – 1 April 2009) was a Swedish middle distance runner who became famous for his rivalry with his compatriot Gunder Hägg in the 1940s. Anderson set a 1500 metres world record in Gothenburg in August 1943 with a time of 3:45.0 minutes. He was born in Trollhättan, Sweden.

This article is about the runner. For the footballer, see Arne Andersson (footballer).
Not to be confused with American professional wrestler Arn Anderson.

Arne Andersson
Arne Andersson in action
Personal information
Born27 October 1917
Trollhättan, Sweden
Died1 April 2009 (aged 91)[1]
Vänersborg, Sweden[1]
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)800–5000 m
ClubUddevalla IS
Elfsborg
Örgryte IS
SoIK Hellas[2]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)800 m – 1:50.8 (1942)
1500 m – 3:44.0 (1944)
Mile – 4:01.6 (1944)
5000 m – 14:18.2 (1941)[3]

Andersson set three world records in the mile: the first in Stockholm in July 1942 in (4:06.2); this record was broken in the same year by Hägg (4:04.6). Andersson recaptured the world record in Gothenburg in July 1943 (4:02.6), and improved it further in Malmö in July 1944 (4:01.6). However, Hägg had the last word when he ran (4:01.4) in Malmö in 1945 (Hägg's record was not broken until Roger Bannister ran the first sub-4 mile in Oxford in 1954). Andersson won the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1943.[4][2]

Andersson won seven national titles: two individual (1500 m, 1943–44) and five in relays (1940–42).[2] In 1946 he was disqualified for violating amateur rules, together with Gunder Hägg and Henry Jonsson.[5]

References
  1. Legendaren Arne Andersson, 91, död. svt.se (1 April 2009)
  2. Arne Andersson 1917–2009 Archived 16 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine. storagrabbar.se
  3. Arne Andersson. trackfield.brinkster.net
  4. "Löparlegendar har gått ur tiden". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 2 April 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  5. Henry Jonsson. Swedish Olympic Committee
Records
Preceded by
Gunder Hägg		 Men's 1500 m World Record Holder
17 August 1943 – 7 July 1944		 Succeeded by
Gunder Hägg
Preceded by
Gunder Hägg		 Men's Mile World Record Holder
10 July 1942 – 4 September 1942		 Succeeded by
Gunder Hägg
Preceded by
Gunder Hägg		 Men's Mile World Record Holder
1 July 1943 – 17 July 1945		 Succeeded by
Gunder Hägg
Preceded by
Gunder Hägg		 Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
1943		 Succeeded by
Nils Karlsson
Preceded by
Gunder Hägg		 European Record Holder Men's 1500 m
17 August 1943 – 16 July 1944		 Succeeded by
Gunder Hägg


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