Alf Petersson

Although he began his athletics career as a long jumper, Alf Petersson soon switched to the track and won his first Swedish championship in the 400 metres in 1955. After being runner-up to Gösta Brännström the following year, he then captured the title again in 1957 and 1958, lost it to Lennart Jonsson in 1959, and recaptured it in 1960 in time for the Rome Olympics. At the Games, he was eliminated in round one of the 400 metres and the semi-finals of the 4x400 meteres relay, alongside Jonsson, Hans-Olof Johansson, and Per-Owe Trollsås. Petersson and Jonsson had had better luck in the latter event at the 1958 European Championships, where they took bronze with non-Olympians Nils Holmberg and Hans Lindgren. After coming in second to Johansson at the 1961 Swedish Championships, Petersson retired from active competition. By career, he was a fireman.

Personal Best: 400 – 47.0 (1958).