Clas Gille

Clas Gille struggled at the 1912 Olympics, not getting past the pole vault qualifying, but he became one of Europe’s top vaulters in the coming years. He had little opportunity for international competition in the 1910s but won the 1914 Baltic Games and defeated Hungary’s vaulter in a 1914 dual meet. In 1913 he won the British AAA title, won the 1916 Swedish Games title, and was Swedish national champion four times (1910, 1913-14, 1916). Gille set new Swedish records with 3.85 in 1913 and 3.86 in 1916, which made second on the 1916 year list. In addition to vaulting, Gille competed in both high and long jumps, and in the winter did gymnastics and ski jumping. He became a trainer in 1918, serving in that role through 1927, when he became an athletic grounds supervisor. He tragically died when he was run over by a motorcycle.

Personal Best: PV – 3.86 (1916).