After the Finnish domination of the steeplechase before World War II, the Swedes rose to the top level during the War and were the dominant force just after the War as they took silver and bronze at the 1946 European Championships and the top three places at the London Olympics. Göte Hagström from Kvarnsveden started out as an 800 and 1,500 metre runner, but was one of the top steeplechasers in the world during the 1940s, ranking second in the world top 10 list in 1948 and third in 1944 and 1945. The high point of Hagström’s career was the 1948 Olympics, where he won a bronze medal behind his compatriots Tore Sjöstrand and Erik Elmsäter. Those Olympics were also his only major international. Hagström won his only Swedish title in 1949 in cross-country. He also won two silvers (1941 cross-country, 1948 steeplechase) and four bronzes (1944-45, 1947 steeplechase, 1950 cross-country) at the Swedish Championships. Hagström was also a good cross-country skier. By profession he was a turner.
Personal Best: 3000S – 9:01.0 (1948).
Sweden