Sonja Edström facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	(1930-12-18)18 December 1930 Luleå, Sweden
Died	15 October 2020(2020-10-15) (aged 89) Luleå, Sweden
Sport
Sport	Cross-country skiing
Club	Luleå SK
Medal record Women's cross-country skiing Representing  Sweden Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 1 0 2 World Championships 0 0 2 Total 1 0 4 Olympic Games Gold 1960 Squaw Valley 3 × 5 km relay Bronze 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 10 km Bronze 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 3 × 5 km relay World Championships Bronze 1954 Falun 3 × 5 km relay Bronze 1958 Lahti 3 × 5 km relay

Sonja Viola Edström-Ruthström (born December 18, 1930 – died October 15, 2020) was a famous Swedish cross-country skier. She was known for her amazing speed and strength on the snow. Sonja won several medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships.

Sonja Edström-Ruthström: A Skiing Star

Sonja Edström-Ruthström was a top athlete in cross-country skiing. This sport involves skiing across snowy terrain, often over long distances. She competed in three Olympic Games. These were in 1952, 1956, and 1960. She mainly raced in the 10 kilometer (km) event and the 3 × 5 km relay. A relay race is where team members take turns skiing parts of the course.

Early Life and Career

Sonja grew up in a family with six children. Her mother became very sick when Sonja was only six years old. Because of this, her father mostly raised her and her siblings. Sonja started working at a young age to help her family. At 14, she worked as a maid. By 16, she was cleaning bottles at a brewery in Luleå. Later in life, she became a nurse. She worked at a hospital in Luleå for over 30 years.

Sonja was also a very successful skier in Sweden. Between 1953 and 1960, she won many national titles. She earned 12 individual titles. She also won three relay titles with her team. In 1956, she won the 10 km event at the famous Holmenkollen ski festival. This festival is a big event in skiing.

Olympic Triumphs

Sonja Edström-Ruthström had great success at the Olympic Games.

• In 1956, at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, she won two bronze medals. She earned one in the 10 km race. Her second bronze was in the 3 × 5 km relay event.
• Her biggest Olympic moment came in 1960. At the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, she won a gold medal! This was in the 3 × 5 km relay. She also finished fifth in the 10 km race that year.

World Championship Success

Sonja also won medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. These are major international competitions. She earned two bronze medals in the 3 × 5 km relay.

• Her first World Championship bronze was in 1954 in Falun.
• Her second was in 1958 in Lahti.

Sonja Edström-Ruthström was a true champion. She showed great dedication to her sport. Her hard work led to many victories. She is remembered as an important figure in Swedish cross-country skiing.