Ragnar Skanåker

Ragnar Skanåker represented Sweden in 12 sport shooting events across seven consecutive editions of the Olympic Games, from 1972 through 1996. During that time he won four medals in the free pistol, 50 metres: gold in 1972, silver in 1984 and 1988, and bronze in 1992. He was also a six-time medalist at the World Championships, taking gold, silver, and bronze in the free pistol, 50 metres in 1982, 1978, and 1979 respectively; gold and bronze in the 10 metre air pistol in 1983 and 1981 respectively; and gold in the 25 metre standard pistol in 1978. At the Europeans, he won four medals in the free pistol, 50 metres (gold in 1989, silver in 1983 and 1991, and bronze in 1993), as well as a silver medal in the 10 metre air pistol in 1988.

Skanåker learned to shoot while serving in the Swedish Air Force and his piloting skills were later called upon by the United Nations in the early 1960s. His first civilian job was running a gas station but, after his successes in sport shooting, he began a career in designing shooting glasses and other hardware, and producing literature on his sport. He also worked as a shooting coach in several countries.