Gunder Hägg facts for kids
Hägg (right) sets a new world record for the mile at 4.06.2 in Gothenburg on 1 July 1942. Behind him is Arne Andersson.
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 31 December 1918 Albacken, Sweden |
| Died | 27 November 2004 (aged 85) Malmö, Sweden |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | 800–5000 m, steeplechase |
| Club | Albackens IF Kälarne IK Gefle IF MAI |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 800 m – 1:52.8 (1942) 1500 m – 3:43.0 (1944) Mile – 4:01.4 (1945) 3000 m – 8:01.2 (1942) 5000 m – 13:58.2 (1942) |
Gunder Hägg (born December 31, 1918 – died November 27, 2004) was a famous Swedish runner. He became well-known in the 1940s for breaking many world records in middle-distance running. He set over a dozen world records in races from 1500 meters to 5000 meters. This included three records for the 1500 meters and the mile race, one for the 3000 meters, and one for the 5000 meters.
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Gunder Hägg: A Running Star
Gunder Hägg was an amazing athlete. He was known for his incredible speed and endurance. During the 1940s, he was one of the most exciting runners in the world.
Breaking World Records
Gunder Hägg set many new world records during his career. He was especially good at middle-distance races. These are races that are longer than sprints but shorter than marathons.
The Mile Race Challenge
One of Hägg's most famous achievements was in the mile run. He and another Swedish runner, Arne Andersson, pushed each other to run faster and faster. They both helped to lower the world record for the mile to just over four minutes. This was a huge step forward in running history.
- In July 1942, Hägg set a new mile record of 4 minutes and 6.2 seconds.
- Later that same month, Andersson equaled Hägg's record.
- In September 1942, Hägg broke his own record, running the mile in 4 minutes and 4.6 seconds.
- Andersson then took the record back in July 1943 (4:02.6) and improved it again in July 1944 (4:01.6).
- Finally, in July 1945, Hägg ran the mile in an astonishing 4 minutes and 1.4 seconds in Malmö.
Hägg's record for the mile stood for almost nine years. It was not broken until Roger Bannister ran the first-ever mile in under four minutes in May 1954.
First Under 14 Minutes
Gunder Hägg was also the first person in history to run the 5000-meter race in under 14 minutes. This was another huge milestone in long-distance running.
His Legacy
In 1946, Gunder Hägg faced a challenge in his career. He was declared a "professional" athlete. This meant he had received payments for running, which was not allowed for amateur athletes at the time. Because of this, he was not allowed to compete anymore. Arne Andersson and Henry Jonsson also faced the same situation.
Despite this, Hägg's achievements were widely recognized. Four years earlier, in 1942, he received the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal. This is a very important award in Sweden for sports achievements. Gunder Hägg is remembered as a true pioneer who pushed the limits of human running performance.
See also
- In Spanish: Gunder Hägg para niños
