Fredrik Svanström

Finnish solider and veterinarian Fredrik Svanström was also a champion middle-distance runner. In 1907 Svanström became the national champion in the 1,500 metres and broke several Finnish records in distances from 1,000 metres to the mile. At the 1908 London Olympics he ran in the 800 metres and the 1,500 metres but did not advance from his heats in either race.

In 1911 Svanström graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover as a veterinary physician where he then worked as a veterinarian in the town of Pragas until 1918. By this time he was hired by the Finnish Defence Forces and fought in the Finnish Civil War. Svanström then held several veterinary roles in the Finnish Army during the Winter War of 1939 and the Continuation War from 1941 to 1944. He reached the rank of veterinary colonel in 1945 before retiring from the military and working as a veterinarian until his death.

Personal Bests: 800 – 2:05e (1908); 1500 – 4:19.6 (1907).