Gustaf Holmér

Gösta Holmér
Personal information
Full name	Gustaf Richard Mikael Holmér
Nickname(s)	Gösse, Gösta
Born	23 September 1891 Djursdala, Vimmerby, Sweden
Died	22 April 1983 (aged 91) Stockholm, Sweden
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	84 kg (185 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	Decathlon
Club	Upsala Studenters IF
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	110 mH – 15.8 (1914) HJ – 1.85 m (1917) Decathlon – 5889 (1919)[1][2]
Medal record Representing  Sweden Olympic Games 1912 Stockholm Decathlon

Gustaf "Gösta" Richard Mikael Holmér (23 September 1891 – 22 April 1983) was a Swedish athlete who competed in the 1912 and 1920 Olympics.^[3] In 1912 he won a bronze medal in the decathlon and placed eighth in the pentathlon, despite not running the 1500 m stage. In 1920, he placed fourth in the decathlon and was eliminated in the first round of the 110 m hurdles event.^[1] Nationally Holmér won Swedish titles in the pentathlon (1912–13, 1915, 1917 and 1920), decathlon (1913 and 1917–19) and 110 m hurdles (1913).^[4][5]

In the 1912 Olympic decathlon Holmér finished fourth, but was awarded a bronze medal after the winner Jim Thorpe was disqualified for having played semi-professional baseball. Thorpe was reinstated as a winner in 1982, and Holmér was moved down to the fourth place, yet he retained a bronze medal.^[5][6]

In the 1930s, while coaching the downtrodden Swedish cross-country team, Holmér developed the fartlek interval training technique.^[7] His concept was faster-than-race-pace and concentrated on simultaneous speed/endurance training. The technique proved successful and has been adopted by many physiologists since then.

Holmér was the father of Hans Holmér, who headed the special unit investigating the assassination of the Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986.^[5]

References