 Hägg (right) sets a new world record for the mile at 4.06.2 inGothenburg on 1 July 1942. Behind him isArne Andersson. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| 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[1] |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personalbest(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)[2] |
Gunder Hägg (31 December 1918 – 27 November 2004)[2][3] was a Swedishrunner and multipleworld record breaker of the 1940s. He set over a dozenmiddle distance world records at events ranging from1500 to5000 meters, including three at both the 1500 meters and themile, one at3000 meters and one at5000 meters.[4]
Hägg and fellow Swede,Arne Andersson, lowered the record for the mile to just over four minutes (4:01.4) – accelerating theprogression of the world record in themile run. Both athletes set three world records for the mile. Hägg first set the record in July 1942 at 4:06.2, a time which was equalled by Andersson later the same month. This record was broken by Hägg (4:04.6) in September the same year. Andersson recaptured the world record in July 1943 (4:02.6), and improved it further in July 1944 (4:01.6). However, Hägg then managed a time of 4:01.4 inMalmö in July 1945. Hägg's record was not broken untilRoger Bannister ran the first sub-4 mile inOxford in May 1954.[3]
Hägg was also the first man to run a sub-14 minute 5,000 metres, a feat he achieved in September 1942. This record stood for over eleven years. The next world record for the men's 5,000 metres to stand for this long was set in May 2004 byKenenisa Bekele ofEthiopia. His record stood for over sixteen years.
In 1946, Gunder Hägg was branded a professional because he received payments for running. He was therefore barred from competition, together with Arne Andersson andHenry Jonsson.[3][5] Four years earlier, he earned theSvenska Dagbladet Gold Medal.[1]
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Men's 1500 m World Record Holder 10 August 1941 – 17 August 1943 7 July 1944 – 29 June 1952 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Men's Mile World Record Holder 1 July 1942 – 10 July 1942 4 September 1942 – 1 July 1943 17 July 1945 – 6 May 1954 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Men's 3000 m World Record Holder 28 August 1942 – 12 August 1949 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Men's Two Miles World Record Holder 3 June 1942 – 26 August 1952 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Men's 5000 m World Record Holder 20 September 1942 – 30 May 1954 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | European Record Holder Men's 1500 m 10 August 1941 – 16 August 1943 17 July 1944 – 14 July 1947 | Succeeded by |
| Awards | ||
| Preceded by | Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal 1942 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
