Gunnar Höckert

Gunnar Mikael Höckert (12 February 1910 11 February 1940) was a Finnish runner, winner of the 5000 m race at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

Gunnar Höckert
Gunnar Höckert at the 1936 Olympics
Personal information
Born12 February 1910
Helsinki, Finland
Died11 February 1940 (aged 29)
Karelian Isthmus, Finland
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight67–69 kg (148–152 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)1500 m, 5000 m, steeplechase
ClubIdrottsklubben 32, Helsinki
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)1500 – 3:55.2 (1936)
3000 mS – 9:26.8 (1935)
5000 m – 14:22.2 (1936)[1][2]

Biography

Born in Helsinki to a wealthy family, Gunnar Höckert had only one great season, in 1936. The 5000 m final at the Berlin Olympics started in a good pace. The tempo was dictated by American Donald Lash, but he was overtaken by three Finns after 2,000 m. Soon the race turned into a battle between Höckert and defending Olympic Champion and world record holder Lauri Lehtinen. In the last lap Höckert overran Lehtinen to win in a world's season best time of 14:22.2. In this same race Gunnar's teammate Henry Jonsson got third place over Kohei Murakoso, Japanese runner who was leading the race at the beginning.[1]

Later on that season, on 16 September in Stockholm, Höckert ran a new world record in 3,000 m (8:14.8). A week later, on the same track, Höckert ran a new world record in 2 miles (8:57.4) and another week later, he equalled the Jules Ladoumegue's 2,000 m world record of 5:21.8 in Malmö.[1]

The rest of the Höckert's athletics career was hampered by rheumatism, and he never again achieved the times he had run in 1936. He went to the Winter War as a volunteer, progressing to 2nd lieutenant. He was killed during the Winter War on the Karelian Isthmus, just one day before his thirtieth birthday.[3][4]

References

  1. Gunnar Höckert. sports-reference.com
  2. Gunnar Höckert. trackfield.brinkster.net
  3. Wallechinsky, David (2004). The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics, Toronto: Sport Classic Books. ISBN 1-894963-34-2
  4. "Olympians Who Were Killed or Missing in Action or Died as a Result of War". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
Records
Preceded by
Henry Nielsen
Men's 3,000m World Record Holder
16 September 1936 14 August 1940
Succeeded by
Henry Kälarne
Preceded by
Don Lash
Men's Two Miles World Record Holder
24 September 1936 30 September 1937
Succeeded by
Miklós Szabó
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