Bengt-Erik Grahn

As one of Sweden’s best slalom skiers in the 1960s Bengt-Erik Grahn won six national titles along with a second-place finish at a World Cup competition. Representing Tärna IK Fjällvinden, Grahn won three titles in the giant slalom, two in the slalom, and one in the downhill at the Swedish Championships. In 1966 he was leading after the first run in the slalom at the Alpine Skiing World Championships, but made a mistake on the second run to be disqualified. Grahn came close to winning an elusive gold one year later, finishing second in the slalom at the championships in Kitzbühel, Austria.

In 1960 Grahn was selected to represent Sweden at the Squaw Valley Olympics. During training, however, he suffered an injury and was unable to start in either the downhill or slalom events. Four years later he was once again selected for the Olympics, this time managing to start in all three Alpine skiing events at the Innsbruck Games. His best result came in the downhill, placing 31st, after poor performances in both the slalom and giant slalom. Grahn travelled to his third and final Olympics in 1968, competing in the slalom and giant slalom at the Grenoble Games. After retiring from skiing he worked as a physical education teacher.