After the Finnish domination of the steeplechase before World War II, Swedish runners became the dominant force during and after the war, taking the top three places at the 1946 European Championships and the 1948 London Olympics. Tore Sjöstrand, from Huddinge, became known on the international athletics scene after winning bronze at the 1946 Europeans. At the London Olympics the three Swedes Sjöstrand, Erik Elmsäter and Göte Hagström were the class of the field. Sjöstrand won the race with a fast last lap, beating world record holder Elmsäter by 3.6 seconds. At the 1950 European Championships, Sjöstrand finished only eighth and retired from sports after that performance. Domestically he won two Swedish 3,000 m steeplechase titles in 1947 and 1948.
Personal Best: 3000S – 8:59.8 (1948).
Sweden