Axel Nordlander

Axel Nordlander, called the Younger, was the son of the owner of ironworks in Norrbärke in Dalarna. His grandfather of the same name was a well-known industrialist. Axel, the Younger, joined the Svea Artillery Regiment in 1900 as second lieutenant. He was promoted to lieutenant in the Scanian Hussar Regiment in 1906. Ten years later he rose to the rank of captain. Nordlander left the active service in 1929 and became a reserve officer, a status he held until 1946. He was made a Knight of the Order of the Sword and received the French order of Agricultural Merit.

With his horse Lady Artist, Nordlander won gold in both eventing events, individually and with the team, at the 1912 Olympic Games. Thanks to the second-best score in the final phase, the dressage, he moved from seventh to first place. He also won the Grand Prix in St. Moritz in 1910 and became champion of Cheval d’Armes competition in Nice in 1921. Nordlander was also successful on race courses with five victories and 12 podiums in 36 starts in Sweden and Denmark between 1904 and 1909. He was also active as a pilot and in ballooning winning the prestigious Gordon Bennet Cup in Zürich in 1909. Nordlander also tried his hand at bobsleighing. During this period as a young officer, he lived beyond his means, went bankrupt and was for a time declared incompetent.

Axel Nordlander got married three times: in 1906 to Aslög Sofia Maria Annhild “Bib” Adelsköld, in 1914 to Märit Lithander, and in 1941 to Dorothy Sonja Helene “Dolly” von Medem (née Tour). He had his only daughter with his second wife.