Bertil Jansson

From 1916 to 1929 Bertil Jansson won 15 Swedish shot put titles and set nine national records. Jansson won his first national title in the shot put in 1916 when the event used the combined distance thrown from each hand. The following year he finished as runner-up to Eric Lemming before winning gold every year from 1918 to 1925. The combined shot put throw was eventually phased out, with the throw using just the best hand becoming standard and Jansson winning the Swedish title from 1924 to 1929. During his career he set multiple national records in the event and became the first Swede to throw further than 15 metres when he threw 15.08 metres in September 1927. Jansson’s record stood until 1933 when Samuel Norrby improved it.

During the 1920s Jansson represented Sweden at two Olympic Games. In 1920 at the Antwerpen Olympics he finished in ninth place before finishing in eighth place at the 1924 Paris Olympics. After his athletics career Jansson worked as an economist, an accountant, and a lecturer at a high school in Norrköping.

Personal Best: SP – 15.08 (1927).