Gunnar Bergh

Gunnar Bergh was one of the best Swedish athletes ever to compete in the shot put and discus throw, with him dominating the two events for a decade. Across the two disciplines he won 15 national titles, set a Swedish record in the shot put, and won a bronze in the discus at the European Championships. From 1935 to 1942 he won eight consecutive Swedish titles in the shot put and held the national record in the event from 1935 to 1947. In the discus he won bronze in 1933 and 1934, before winning silver in 1935 and 1936, and his first gold in 1937. From 1938 to 1944 Bergh then won a further six Swedish titles in the discus, only interrupted by a silver medal in 1942.

Bergh represented Sweden in both disciplines at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, finishing seventh in the discus, and ninth in the shot put. Two years later, at the 1938 European Athletics Championships, he won bronze in the discus and finished in fifth in the shot. His daughter Wivianne competed in the discus at the 1960 Roma Olympics.

Personal Bests: SP – 15.84 (1936); DT – 51.72 (1936).