Roland Nilsson

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRoland Fritz•Nilsson
Used nameRoland•Nilsson
Born26 November 1924 in Svanöbruk, Kramfors, Västernorrland (SWE)
Died21 February 2014 in Alton, Illinois (USA)
Measurements196 cm / 105 kg
AffiliationsF11 IF, Nyköping (SWE) / Westermalms IF, Stockholm (SWE) / Michigan Wolverines, Ann Arbor (USA)
NOC Sweden

Biography

Roland Nilsson was a Swedish athlete who competed in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics but made much of his fame in his college career in the United States with the University of Michigan. He was a six-time Big 10 champion in the shot put, three indoors and three outdoors, and won five titles at the Penn Relays between 1952-54. At the European Championships Roland Nilsson finished fourth in shot put in 1946 as well as in 1954 and fifth in discus throw (1954). Nilsson graduated from the Sundsvall Trade School in 1944 and later worked as a civilian mechanic and served in the Swedish Air Force. In 2006 he was one of the inaugural inductees into the University of Michigan Track & Field Hall of Fame.

Personal Bests: SP – 17.00 (1953); DT – 54.54 (1954).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Athletics SWE Roland Nilsson
Shot Put, Men (Olympic) 14
1952 Summer Olympics Athletics SWE Roland Nilsson
Shot Put, Men (Olympic) 5
Discus Throw, Men (Olympic) 7