Oscar Swahn
Encyclopedia
Oscar Gomer Swahn (October 20, 1847, Tanum Municipality
– May 1, 1927) was a Swedish
shooter
who competed at three Olympic games and won several medals.
At the 1908 Summer Olympics
, Oscar Swahn won two gold medals in the running deer, single shot events (individual and team), and a bronze medal in the running deer double shot individual event. He was 60 years old, only a year younger than Joshua Millner
, the oldest gold medalist at that time.
When the 1912 Summer Olympics
came to his native country, Sweden, he was a member of the single shot running deer team which again won the gold medal. He also won bronze again at the individual double shot running deer event, but came fifth in the individual single shot event, which was won by his son Alfred Swahn. At 64 years of age, he became the oldest gold medalist ever, which he still remains up to today.
At the age of 72, he was the oldest sportsman to compete in the 1920 Summer Olympics
. In fact, he was the oldest athlete ever to compete in the Olympics. His best results were in the team competitions: a fourth place in the single shot running deer event, and a second place in the double shot running deer contest. With this silver medal, he is also the oldest medalist of all time (not counting the art competitions
).
Swahn did not compete in the 1924 Games because of illness.
In all of the team competitions that Oscar Swahn entered at the three Olympic games of 1908, 1912, and 1920, he was accompanied by his son Alfred Swahn
, who also won one bronze, one silver and two gold medals on individual events.
Tanum Municipality
Tanum Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Tanumshede, with 1,600 inhabitants....
– May 1, 1927) was a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
shooter
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
who competed at three Olympic games and won several medals.
At the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
, Oscar Swahn won two gold medals in the running deer, single shot events (individual and team), and a bronze medal in the running deer double shot individual event. He was 60 years old, only a year younger than Joshua Millner
Joshua Millner
Joshua Kearney Millner , also referred to as Jerry Millner, was a British shooter who represented Great Britain and Ireland at the...
, the oldest gold medalist at that time.
When the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
came to his native country, Sweden, he was a member of the single shot running deer team which again won the gold medal. He also won bronze again at the individual double shot running deer event, but came fifth in the individual single shot event, which was won by his son Alfred Swahn. At 64 years of age, he became the oldest gold medalist ever, which he still remains up to today.
At the age of 72, he was the oldest sportsman to compete in the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
. In fact, he was the oldest athlete ever to compete in the Olympics. His best results were in the team competitions: a fourth place in the single shot running deer event, and a second place in the double shot running deer contest. With this silver medal, he is also the oldest medalist of all time (not counting the art competitions
Art competitions at the Olympic Games
Art competitions formed part of the modern Olympic Games during its early years, from 1912 to 1952. The competitions were part of the original intention of the Olympic Movement's founder, Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin...
).
Swahn did not compete in the 1924 Games because of illness.
In all of the team competitions that Oscar Swahn entered at the three Olympic games of 1908, 1912, and 1920, he was accompanied by his son Alfred Swahn
Alfred Swahn
Alfred "Alf" Gomer Swahn was a Swedish sport shooter who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, in the 1920 Summer Olympics, and in the 1924 Summer Olympics....
, who also won one bronze, one silver and two gold medals on individual events.