FREDRIKSSON, GERT

born 1919 Swedish canoeist who dominated the sport between 1948 and 1960, winning four world championships (1948, 1950, 1954, and 1958) in kayaking events and eight Olympic medals, including six golds. At the 1948 Olympic Games in London, Fredriksson handily won the 1,000-metre and 10,000-metre individual kayak races. At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Fin., he again won the gold medal in the 1,000-metre kayak, but he had to settle for the silver in the 10,000-metre kayak when he was outpaddled by Thorvald Strmberg of Finland. Fredriksson swept the individual kayak races for the second time at the 1956 Games in Melbourne. He returned to the Olympics for the last time in 1960 in Rome. At the age of 41, he took a bronze medal in the 1,000-metre individual kayak event and a gold medal in the 1,000-metre kayak pairs, paddling with Sven-Olov Sjdelius. Fredriksson's kayaking career included 56 individual championships, 35 first place finishes in relay events, and 3 firsts in pairs events. His exceptional record and longevity mark him as one of the greatest kayak racers ever.