Irma Johansson

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameIrma Elina•Johansson (-Öberg)
Used nameIrma•Johansson
Born3 April 1932 in Kalix, Norrbotten (SWE)
AffiliationsIFK Kalix, Kalix (SWE) / Luleå SK, Luleå (SWE)
NOC Sweden
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 2

Biography

Irma Johansson was a Swedish cross country skier who competed in the 1950s and 1960s having her greatest success in relay events, mostly running the first leg. In 1956 at Cortina d’Ampezzo she earned a bronze medal in the 3x5 km relay. She was also with the Swedish relay team that won gold in 1960 in Squaw Valley together with Britt Strandberg and Sonja Edström-Ruthström, where she gave her teammates a comfortable lead after the first leg. Irma Johansson also won a 3x5 km bronze medal at the 1958 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Nationally, she only achieved one championship in the 3x5 km relay in 1960 with the team from Luleå.

In 1946, at 14-years-old, she won the Pålänge Race for women. In 1955 she became part of the national team and started competing internationally. She had started training in gardening in Karlstad in 1959 giving little chance to prepare for the Olympics which turned out to be the highlight of her career. For more than 30 years she worked for the town of Skellefteå together with her husband who also worked as a gardener. After retirement, they moved back to her family farm in Börjelsby outside Kalix near Luleå.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) SWE Irma Johansson
10 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 7
3 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) Sweden 3 Bronze
1960 Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) SWE Irma Johansson
10 kilometres, Women (Olympic) 8
3 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) Sweden 1 Gold

Special Notes