Erik Byléhn

Swedish track athlete Erik Byléhn competed in the 200, 400, and 800 metres, winning two Olympic medals and three national titles. In his day job Byléhn worked as a veterinarian in Karlstad and later lived in the United States for part of his life.

Byléhn won his first medal at the Swedish championships with silver in the 400 metres in 1922. Two years later he won bronze in the 200 metres, but went on to focus his efforts in the 400 and 800 metres, winning the national title in both distances. Byléhn won his final Swedish title in 1928 with victory in the 800 metres.

At the 1924 Paris Olympics Byléhn was part of the Swedish quartet that won the silver medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay. He also ran in the 400 metres and 800 metres in Paris but did not advance from the heats in either race. Four years later he won silver in the 800 metres at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, setting a Swedish record in the final that stood until 1933. Byléhn was also part of the relay team in the 4 × 400 metres where Sweden finished in fourth place.

Personal Bests: 400 – 48.7 (1924); 800 – 1:52.8e (1928).