Hans von Blixen-Finecke
Baron Hans Gustaf von Blixen-Finecke (25 July 1886 – 26 September 1917) was a Swedish officer and equestrian who won a bronze medal in dressage at the 1912 Summer Olympics. He died in an aeroplane crash in 1917.[1][2]
At the 1912 Olympics | |||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
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Born | 25 July 1886 Näsbyholm Castle, Trelleborg, Sweden | ||||||||||
Died | 26 September 1917 (aged 31) Malmslätt, Sweden | ||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||
Sport | Equestrian | ||||||||||
Event(s) | Dressage | ||||||||||
Club | K6 IF, Ystad | ||||||||||
Medal record
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Career
Von Blixen-Finecke was born at Näsbyholm Castle, Sweden and was the son of Baron Fredrik von Blixen-Finecke, a Hovjägmästare, and his wife Countess Clara Krag-Juel-Wind-Frijs.[3] He was both the twin brother of Bror von Blixen-Finecke, a famed professional hunter in Africa, and a brother-in-law of writer Karen Blixen. Hans had experienced a failed love affair with Karen Blixen, who then accepted an offer of marriage from Hans' brother.[4]
Von Blixen-Finecke passed mogenhetsexamen on 29 May 1906 and became a volunteer at the Scanian Dragoon Regiment (Skånska dragonregementet, K 6) on 31 May 1906. He was commissioned as an officer on 19 December 1908 and served as a underlöjtnant at the Scanian Dragoon Regiment from 31 December the same year. He was promoted to lieutenant there in 1910.[5] He was a rare equestrian talent, especially on the racetrack, where he 1910-15 was the foremost in Scandinavia, with 57 victories in 171 races. One of his achievements was when he in 1914 after a victory in Gothenburg flew to Klampenborg and where had his second victory of the day. von Blixen-Finecke won a bronze medal in dressage at the 1912 Summer Olympics. His best horses were those on his father's estate Näsbyholm, Aimable, Baccarat, Hops and Hilarion.[6]
Personal life
On 15 July 1915 at Trollenäs Castle he married Hilla-Brita Trolle (born 4 April 1894), the daughter of överhovjägmästaren, baron Nils Axel Arvid Trolle and baroness Anna Eleonora Sofia Leijonhufvud.[5] Their son, Hans von Blixen-Finecke Jr., won two gold medals in eventing at the 1952 Summer Olympics.[1][2]
Hans von Blixen-Finecke Sr. died in an aeroplane crash on 26 September 1917 and was buried at Gärdslöv Cemetery in Trelleborg Municipality.[7]
In popular culture
In the film Out of Africa, which is based on Karen Blixen's memoirs of the same name, the role of Hans von Blixen-Finecke is played by Austrian actor Klaus Maria Brandauer, who also plays the role of his brother Bror.
References
- "Hans von Blixen-Finecke, Sr". Sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- "Hans von Blixen-Finecke sr" (in Swedish). Swedish Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- Vem var det?: biografier över bortgångna svenska män och kvinnor samt kronologisk förteckning över skilda ämbetens och tjänsters innehavare [Who was it?: biographies of deceased Swedish men and women and chronological list of different office and services holders] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. 1944. p. 29.
- O'Brien, Sally. "Copenhagen - City guide". Lonely Planet, 2005. ISBN 9781741040357. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
She (Karen) married her second cousin Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, after having a failed love affair with his twin brother Hans.
- "Hans Gustaf". www.adelsvapen.com (in Swedish). Adelsvapen. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- Cederström, Claes (1938). Svahn, Åke (ed.). Nordisk familjeboks sportlexikon: uppslagsverk för sport, gymnastik och friluftsliv. Bd 1, A-Brännboll (in Swedish). 1. Stockholm: Nordisk familjeboks förlags aktiebolag. pp. 863–864. SELIBR 893563.
- "Hans Von Blixen-Finecke" (in Swedish). Gravar.se. Retrieved 2 August 2016.