Torsten Sandelin

Torsten Sandelin, the son of a vicar and county governor, graduated from a Swedish school in Kokkola in 1907. He then studied medicine and earned a Bachelor of Medicine degree in 1909. In 1910 he became a licentiate in medicine and in 1916 a Doctor of medicine and surgery. He then worked as a hospital and private surgeon in Helsinki. He made study trips to Germany, Denmark and Sweden and in 1939 he was appointed chairman of the Swedish-speaking Finnish Society of Medicine. During the Finnish-Russian wars in World War II, he served at the Tilkka military hospital, reaching the rank of major. For his services, he was awarded the Cross of Liberty in 1942.

Sandelin was a gymnast and won bronze with the Finnish team at the 1908 Olympic Games in London in the team all-around. One year later, he became a Finnish champion in team gymnastics. At the next Olympics in 1912, he competed in sailing as a crew member of the “Finn II”, the Finnish boat in the 6 metres class. As a tennis player, he won the Finnish mixed championship in 1919.

Torsten Sandelin’s older brother Eino was also a physician and 1912 sailing Olympian. Both brothers were members of the Swedish People’s Party of Finland. With his wife since 1916, Aina Emilia (née Gylling), he had two daughters and one son.