Ricky Bruch

Known as being both outspoken and controversial, Ricky Bruch started out as a shot putter, but later switched to discus throwing. He represented around a dozen clubs, including his own IK Diskus. Bruch was a solid athlete, but failed to achieve the success expected of him. The highlight of his career came in 1972, when he equalled the world record of 68.40 metres at the Dagens Nyheter games in Stockholm and, later that season, won a bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics.

Bruch’s other honors include discus silver at the 1969 European Championships and bronze at the 1974 Europeans, shot put bronze at the 1971 European Indoor Championships, and discus gold at the 1970 European Cup. He was also Swedish discus champion in 1967, 1969-70, 1972-78, and 1983; and shot put champion in 1970 and 1972.

During his sporting career, Bruch also dabbled in acting, starting with Italian action comedy film Anche gli angeli tirano di destroy (1974), followed by the Danish comedy Agent 69 Jensen i Skyttens tegn (1978), Swedish comedy Dante - akta’re för Hajen! (1978), and the Swedish family adventure Ronja Robbersdaughter (1984). In 1971 he also released the musical single “Baby Do Do.” Bruch’s autobiography Gladiatorns kamp (The Gladiator’s Battle) was published in 1990, and an anthology of his poetry, Själ och kropp: Dikter (Body and Soul: Poems), came out in 1975. Bruch later admitted to doping and supplying other Swedish athlete with performance enhancing drugs.

Personal Best: DT – 71.26 (1984).