John Svanberg

As a successful distance runner John Svanberg won medals at the Swedish national championships and at the Olympics. At the 1960 national championships Svanberg won gold in the 10,000 metres and silver in the 1,500 metres. The following year he did the double with gold in both races. From 1907 to 1912 Svanberg held the Swedish record in the 5,000 metres, and from 1908 to 1910 he held the national record in the 10,000 metres.

Svanberg won silver in the five miles race and the marathon at the 1906 Intercalated Games. The marathon race took place on a very hot day, with temperatures reaching 27° C, and Svanberg finished almost seven minutes behind the race winner Billy Sherring of Canada. Two years later Svanberg ran in the same two events at the 1908 London Olympics where he won bronze in the five miles race and finished in eighth place in the marathon. He was also part of the three-miles team race, with Sweden finishing in third place in their heat.

Following the 1908 Olympics Svanberg was declared to be a “non-amateur” after he pawned his sports prizes. He then moved to the United States to continue his running career as a professional athlete, and later worked as a master painter in Brooklyn. In 1909 Svanberg appeared in the short Swedish silent film Svanberg i täflan with racehorses at Jägersro, which depicted him in an exhibition race against horses.

Personal Bests: 5 miles – 24:47.6 (1907); Mar – 2-58:21 (1906).