Sven Thofelt facts for kids
Sven Thofelt, circa 1930
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| Born | 19 May 1904 Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Died | 1 February 1993 (aged 88) Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Sport | Fencing, modern pentathlon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Sven Alfred Thofelt (born May 19, 1904 – died February 1, 1993) was a famous Swedish athlete. He was skilled in two sports: modern pentathlon and épée fencing. Sven competed in four Olympic Games: 1928, 1932, 1936, and 1948. He won several Olympic medals, including a gold!
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Sven Thofelt was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 19, 1904. His father, Alfred Thofelt, was a major in the military.
Sven's Amazing Career
Military Service
Sven Thofelt had a long and successful career in the Swedish military. He became an officer in 1924 after finishing his studies at the Military Academy Karlberg. Over the years, he rose through the ranks:
- In 1928, he became a lieutenant.
- By 1937, he was promoted to captain.
- He became a major in 1943.
- In 1949, he was a lieutenant colonel.
- Finally, in 1954, he reached the rank of colonel.
Sven also had a special role working for the Swedish royal family. He was an assistant, called an adjutant, to Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf from 1938 to 1947. After that, he served King Gustav V from 1948 to 1950. He retired from the military in 1964.
Sports Achievements
Sven Thofelt was a true sports hero! He was excellent at both modern pentathlon and fencing.
In the modern pentathlon, he won a gold medal at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. This sport is very challenging because it includes five different events:
- Fencing
- Swimming
- Horse riding (show jumping)
- Pistol shooting
- Cross-country running
Sven also competed in the modern pentathlon at the 1932 and 1936 Olympics, finishing fourth both times. In 1932, he even competed with broken ribs and an injured arm after falling from his horse!
In fencing, Sven won two team medals with his Swedish teammates:
- A silver medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
- A bronze medal at the 1948 London Olympics.
He also won many medals at the World Fencing Championships:
- Two silver medals in team épée (1938 and 1947).
- Four bronze medals in team épée (1931, 1933, 1934, and 1937).
Sven was also a national champion in Sweden, winning six titles in modern pentathlon and three in individual épée fencing. He even won a national title in 4 × 100 meter freestyle swimming!
Sports Leadership
Beyond competing, Sven Thofelt was a very important leader in the world of sports. He helped organize and manage many sports events and groups.
- From 1960 to 1988, he was the president of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne, which is the international organization for modern pentathlon.
- He was also the president of the Swedish Fencing Federation in 1968.
- From 1969 to 1976, he led the executive board of the Swedish Olympic Committee.
- He was a member of the IOC (the group that runs the Olympic Games) from 1970 to 1976. Later, he became an honorary member.
Sven was the team leader for Sweden at the 1956 Summer Olympics. His son, Björn Thofelt, also competed in modern pentathlon at those games. Björn had even won a world title in 1954!
Family Life
In 1932, Sven Thofelt married Birgit Friis. They had five children together: Lars, Björn, Bisse, Hans, and Ulla.
Awards and Honors
Sven Thofelt received many awards and honors throughout his life, both from Sweden and other countries, for his military service and his contributions to sports.
Swedish Awards
- King Gustaf V's Jubilee Commemorative Medal (1948)
- Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Sword (1960)
- Swedish Fencing Federation Gold Medal
- Swedish Military Sports Association Gold Medal
- Swedish Sports Confederation Gold Medal
International Awards
- Commander of the Order of Merit (Chile)
- Commander of the Military Order of Aviz (Portugal)
- Knight 1st Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- French Gold Medal de l’Education Physique
Images for kids
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King Gustaf V's Jubilee Commemorative Medal ribbon
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King Gustaf V's Commemorative Medal ribbon
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Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Sword ribbon
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Swedish Central Federation for Voluntary Military Training Medal of Merit ribbon
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Commander of the Order of Merit (Chile) ribbon
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Commander of the Military Order of Aviz (Portugal) ribbon
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Knight 1st Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland ribbon
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Knight of the Order of the German Eagle ribbon
