Gustaf Lindblom

Gustaf Lindblom was the son of a clerk. He became a captain of the reserve of the Svea regiment and worked as a civil engineer in Göteborg.

Over a period of about 20 years, Lindblom was one of the best Swedish fencers and competed in four Olympic Games. At the London Olympics in 1908, he competed in both épée events and advanced to the third round individually as the best competitor from Sweden. Four years later, he repeated this feat on home ground and additionally placed fourth with the Swedish épée team, losing on bouts in the final round. Eight years later, at the Antwerpen (Antwerp) Olympics, he even advanced to the final round, placing ninth. For the first time, he also competed in the individual foil event but was eliminated in round one. At his last Olympics, in Paris in 1924, he was probably past his prime and was eliminated in round two in the individual épée tournament.

At home, Lindblom became the Swedish individual champion in épée in 1912 and in foil in 1917 and 1923. With the team of his regiment, he won the “King’s Jug” trophy in 1914, 1921 and 1922. Prior to World War I, he had already won the épée title three times at the Nordic Games (1905, 1909, 1913). In the team event, he claimed gold at the Baltic Games in 1914.

Lindblom married Katharina “Kate” Viktoria Mollén in 1917, and although they had two sons, they divorced a few years later.