Axel Eriksson

Axel Eriksson rowed for Vaxholms RF in the coxed four at the 1912 Olympics. In the first round they lost to the eventual gold medallists from the German Ludwigshafener Ruderverein and were eliminated. Eight years later, the Vaxholm boat represented Sweden at the 1920 Olympics, again in the coxed four. This time, Axel’s younger brother Gösta (/athletes/39877) coxed the boat. Although their timing was faster than that of the winners of the other two heats, they did not make it through to the second round. Again, the boat was defeated by the eventual gold medallists, the boat from Switzerland.

Born in Vaxholm as the son of a gardener, Axel Eriksson later married Eva Matilda Strömberg with whom he had two daughters. He worked as a tinsmith and became a master craftsman in this trade.