Bengt-Erik Grahn facts for kids
Grahn at the 1968 Olympics
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 30 April 1941 Dikanäs, Vilhelmina, Sweden |
| Died | 21 November 2019 (aged 78) |
| Height | 165 cm |
| Weight | 64 kg |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Alpine skiing |
| Club | Tärna IK Fjällvinden, Tärnaby |
Bengt-Erik Grahn (born April 30, 1941 – died November 21, 2019) was a famous Swedish alpine skier. He was known for his exciting races and strong performances. Bengt-Erik competed in three Winter Olympics and was a national champion many times.
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Who Was Bengt-Erik Grahn?
Bengt-Erik Grahn was born in Dikanäs, Sweden. He became a professional alpine skier, which means he raced down snowy mountains. He competed in different types of skiing races, like slalom and downhill.
His Olympic Journey
Bengt-Erik Grahn proudly represented Sweden in the Winter Olympics three times.
1960 Winter Olympics
His first Olympic appearance was at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, USA. He competed in the Slalom event. Unfortunately, he fell during his run and could not finish the race.
1964 Winter Olympics
He returned for the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. In the Downhill event, he finished in 31st place. He also competed in the Slalom, but was disqualified in the first run.
1968 Winter Olympics
At the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, Bengt-Erik had a very strong start in the Slalom. He finished the first run in an amazing 4th place. This put him in a great position for a medal! However, he did not finish the second run.
Amazing World Championship Race
One of Bengt-Erik's most memorable races was at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships in 1966.
Almost a Gold Medal
In the Slalom event, Bengt-Erik was doing incredibly well. After the first run, he was in the lead! He was 1.71 seconds ahead of the next skier, Guy Périllat. Everyone thought he was going to win the gold medal. But, just before the finish line, he made a small mistake. This led to him being disqualified from the race. It was a very dramatic moment for him and his fans.
Other Great Achievements
Bengt-Erik Grahn had many other successes in his skiing career.
Top Finishes
- In January 1965, he finished 3rd in the Slalom race in Wengen, Switzerland.
- He won the Slalom races in Val d'Isère, France, in both December 1965 and December 1966.
- In December 1966, he also took 2nd place in the Alpine Combined event at Val d'Isère.
- In January 1967, he earned 2nd place in the Slalom race in Kitzbühel, Austria. He also placed 10th in two other World Cup Slalom races.
Swedish Champion
Bengt-Erik Grahn was a dominant force in Swedish skiing. Between 1961 and 1971, he won the Swedish Championship seven times! This shows how consistently good he was over many years.
Images for kids
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Grahn at the 1968 Olympics
