Sweden
Pettersson Celebrates at the Swedish Championships
Norrköping, August 1–2, 1925
Stadium, Stockholm, August 22–23, 1925
Evert Nilsson, a two-time Olympian from the coast opposite the island of Gotland, was crowned Sweden’s decathlon champion with a score of 7,406.465. This fell just about fifty points short of the Swedish record he had set only a couple of weeks earlier, which placed him third in the season’s world rankings, trailing only Harold Osborn and Paavo Yrjölä.
Stockholm’s Sten Pettersson further expanded his medal collection at the main championships, traditionally held at Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium in the latter half of August. This time, "Sten-Pelle" stormed to victory in the 100 and 200 metres, as well as the 110m and 400m hurdles. In total, he collected six (standing jumps excluded) Swedish championship titles in 1925, having also anchored the victorious 4×100 and 4×400 relays. “That man, with his long legs, can handle just about any event,” praised a Finnish sports newspaper.
Tactical Byléhn
Future Amsterdam Olympic silver medalist in the 800, Erik Byléhn, claimed his first Swedish championships. The runner from Bollnäs took gold in both the 400 and 800. In the two-lap race, he led through the back straight of the second lap, then allowed a couple of competitors to overtake him—only to cruise past them in the homestretch.
From the same region as Evert Nilsson, 20-year-old Eric Stenfeldt won the 10,000 with the world’s second-fastest time of the season, 31:27.9. However, his mark was nearly a full minute slower than Paavo Nurmi’s winning time at the first-ever Finnkampen (Finland-Sweden athletics match) two weeks later.
Ossian Skiöld secured gold in the hammer with a mark of 50.35 (165-2), the eighth-longest throw of the year. The world rankings were dominated by Irish-born American Matt McGrath, who unleashed the six longest throws of the season.
Results
Winners (Wikipedia)