John Albrechtson

John Albrechtson

Personal information
Nationality	Sweden
Born	22 July 1936 Göteborg, Sweden
Died	27 August 1985 (aged 49) Västra Frölunda, Sweden
Sailing career
Class(es)	Star, Tempest
Medal record Sailing Representing  Sweden Olympic Games 1976 Montreal Tempest class World Championships 1966 Kiel Star class 1977 Strömstad Tempest class 1978 Castelletto Tempest class 1975 Association Island Tempest class 1971 Puget Sound Star class

John Albrechtson (22 July 1936 – 27 August 1985) was a Swedish sailor and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, where he won the gold medal in the Tempest class, together with Ingvar Hansson.^[1]

Biography

Albrechtson was born in Johanneberg, Gothenburg in 1936.

He started his sailing career in the Stjärnbåt class and moved on to Star class in 1957. He won his first Star Swedish Championships in 1966 and crewed for Paul Elvstrøm on the winning 1966 Star World Championships boat.^[2]

Between 1971 and 1978 Albrechtson competed in the Tempest class.^[2] At the 1976 Summer Olympics he won the Olympic gold medal together with Ingvar Hansson before second placed Valentin Mankin and Vladislav Akimenko and bronze medalists Dennis Conner and Colin Findlay. It was the first Swedish Olympic sailing gold medal since the Sundelin brothers won the 5.5 Metre class in the 1968 Summer Olympics

In addition to his victory in Montreal he also competed at the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics. He placed ninth (1968) and fourth (1972) respectively before winning olympic gold four years later.^[3]

Albrechtson died in Västra Frölunda aged 49.

References

1. "1976 Summer Olympics – Montreal, Canada – Sailing" databaseOlympics.com (Retrieved on 31 May 2008)
2. C. Hildebrand, ed. (2004). 100 år under segel : svensk segling 1905–2005 : Svenska seglarförbundet. Stockholm: Nautiska förlaget. p. 148. ISBN 91-89564-15-4.
3. "John Albrechtson biography and olympic results" sports-reference.com (Retrieved on 5 November 2009)