Werner Hardmo

Born as Werner Pettersson, he changed his surname to Hardmo in 1943, after the tiny locality where he was born. During World War II, he broke a total of 22 official world records in track race walking, and 23 in all including one unofficial mark, on distances between 3000 m and 10 miles. Between 1942 and 1945, he won 91 consecutive races, though mostly confined to Sweden because of the war. Hardmo could not continue his victory streak after the war. At the 1946 European Championships, Hardmo was disqualified from the 10 km. He suffered the same fate in the 1948 Olympic final, seeing his compatriots John Mikaelsson and Ingemar Johansson take the honors. He retired after that season to focus on his grocery store in Kumla, after having won the Swedish 10 km title four times (1942-1945).

Personal Best: 10kmW – 42:31.6 (1945).