Arne Andersson (27 October 1917 – 1 April 2009) was a Swedish middle distance runner who became famous for his rivalry with his compatriot Gunder Hägg in the 1940s. Andersson set a 1500 metres world record in Gothenburg in August 1943 with a time of 3:45.0 minutes. He was born in Trollhättan, Sweden.

Arne Andersson
Arne Andersson in action
Personal information
Born27 October 1917
Trollhättan, Sweden
Died1 April 2009 (aged 91)[1]
Vänersborg, Sweden[1]
Sport
SportAthletics
Event800–5000 m
ClubUddevalla IS
Elfsborg
Örgryte IS
SoIK Hellas[2]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)800 m – 1:50.8 (1942)
1500 m – 3:44.0 (1944)
Mile – 4:01.6 (1944)
5000 m – 14:18.2 (1941)[3]

Andersson set three world records in the mile: the first in Stockholm in July 1942 in (4:06.2); this record was broken in the same year by Hägg (4:04.6). Andersson recaptured the world record in Gothenburg in July 1943 (4:02.6), and improved it further in Malmö in July 1944 (4:01.6). However, Hägg had the last word when he ran (4:01.4) in Malmö in 1945 (Hägg's record was not broken until Roger Bannister ran the first sub-4 mile in Oxford in 1954). Andersson won the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1943.[4][2]

Andersson won seven national titles: two individual (1500 m, 1943–44) and five in relays (1940–42).[2] In 1946 he was disqualified for violating amateur rules, together with Gunder Hägg and Henry Jonsson.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Legendaren Arne Andersson, 91, död. svt.se (1 April 2009)
  2. ^ a b c Arne Andersson 1917–2009 Archived 16 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine. storagrabbar.se
  3. ^ Arne Andersson. trackfield.brinkster.net
  4. ^ "Löparlegendar har gått ur tiden". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 2 April 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  5. ^ Henry Jonsson. Swedish Olympic Committee
Records
Preceded by Men's 1500 m World Record Holder
17 August 1943 – 7 July 1944
Succeeded by
Preceded by Men's Mile World Record Holder
10 July 1942 – 4 September 1942
Succeeded by
Preceded by Men's Mile World Record Holder
1 July 1943 – 17 July 1945
Succeeded by
Preceded by Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
1943
Succeeded by
Preceded by European Record Holder Men's 1500 m
17 August 1943 – 16 July 1944
Succeeded by