Fredriksson, Gert

Gert Fredriksson, in full Gert Fridolf Fredriksson, (born Nov. 21, 1919, Nyköping, Swed.—died July 5, 2006, Nyköping), Swedish kayaker, who dominated the sport between 1948 and 1960, winning seven world championships in kayaking events and eight Olympic medals, including six gold.

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 Strömberg of Finland. Fredriksson swept the individual kayak races for the second time at the 1956 Games in Melbourne, Australia. He returned to the Olympics for the last time in 1960 in Rome. At age 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 Sjödelius. Fredriksson coached the Swedish men’s kayaking team at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

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.