Sven Alfred Thofelt (19 May 1904 – 1 February 1993) was a Swedish

modern pentathlete The modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport consisting of fencing (one-touch épée), freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross country running. The event is inspired by the traditional pentathlon held during the anc ...

and

épée The ( or , ), sometimes spelled epee in English, is the largest and heaviest of the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. The modern derives from the 19th-century , a weapon which itself derives from the French small sword. This contain ...

fencer who competed at the

1928 Events January * January – British bacteriologist Frederick Griffith reports the results of Griffith's experiment, indirectly proving the existence of DNA. * January 1 – Eastern Bloc emigration and defection: Boris Bazhan ...

1932 Events January * January 4 – The British authorities in India arrest and intern Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel. * January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort to assassinate Emperor Hiro ...

1936 Events January–February * January 20 – George V of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India, dies at his Sandringham Estate. The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King E ...

and

1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as London 1948) were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, England, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus ca ...

Early life

Thofelt was born on 19 May 1904 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of major Alfred Thofelt and his wife Vera Pousette.

Career

Military career

Thofelt was commissioned as an officer after graduating from the

Military Academy Karlberg Military Academy Karlberg ( sv, Militärhögskolan Karlberg, MHS K) is a Swedish military academy, since its inauguration in 1792 in operation in the Karlberg Palace in Solna, just north of central Stockholm. It is thus the oldest military acad ...

in 1924 and was assigned as a second lieutenant to

Svea Artillery Regiment The Svea Artillery Regiment ( sv, Svea artilleriregemente), designation A 1, was a Swedish Army artillery regiment that traced its origins back to the 17th century. It was disbanded in 1997. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from S ...

in Stockholm. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1928 and attended the higher course at the Artillery and Engineering College from 1928 to 1930. Thofelt was promoted to captain in the

Swedish Army Ordnance Corps The Swedish Army Ordnance Corps ( sv, Fälttygkåren, Ftk) was an administrative corps of the Swedish Army established in 1937 (its first instruction on 18 June 1937). The majority of the active officers and some civilian personnel served in the ...

in 1937 and served in

Göta Artillery Regiment The Göta Artillery Regiment ( sv, Göta artilleriregemente), designation A 2, was a Swedish Army artillery regiment that traced its origins back to the 17th century. It was disbanded in 1962. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited fro ...

in Gothenburg in 1938. He served as a teacher at the Military Academy Karlberg from 1938 to 1943 when he was promoted to major and was assigned to

Karlsborg Anti-Aircraft Regiment Karlsborg Anti-Aircraft Regiment ( sv, Karlsborgs luftvärnsregemente), also Lv 1, was a Swedish Army anti-aircraft unit that was active in various forms between 1937–1961. The unit was based in Karlsborg. History Karlsborg Anti-Aircraft Regi ...

in Karlsborg. He transferred to Stockholm Anti-Aircraft Regiment in Stockholm in 1944 and to Luleå Anti-Aircraft Corps in Luleå in 1948. Thofelt then served as a lieutenant colonel in Stockholm Anti-Aircraft Regiment in 1949 and attended the

Swedish National Defence College The Swedish Defence University ( sv, Försvarshögskolan, FHS) is situated on Drottning Kristinas väg 37 in Östermalm, Stockholm City Centre, next to the campus of the Royal Institute of Technology. History Today's Swedish Defence University ...

in Stockholm in 1954. Thofelt was an adjutant of the

Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf Gustaf VI Adolf (Oscar Fredrik Wilhelm Olaf Gustaf Adolf; 11 November 1882 – 15 September 1973) was King of Sweden from 29 October 1950 until his death in 1973. He was the eldest son of Gustaf V and his wife, Victoria of Baden. Before Gustaf Ado ...

(1938–47) and King Gustav V (1948–50). Thofelt was promoted to colonel in 1954 and was appointed commander of the Swedish Army Anti-Aircraft School (''Luftvärnsskjutskolan'', LvSS) in Stockholm in 1954. The year after Thofelt became commander of

Östgöta Anti-Aircraft Regiment Östgöta Anti-Aircraft Regiment ( sv, Östgöta luftvärnsregemente), also Lv 2, was a Swedish Army anti-aircraft unit that was active in various forms between 1938–1962. The unit was based in Linköping. History The Östgöta Anti-Aircraft ...

Linköping Linköping () is a city in southern Sweden, with around 105,000 inhabitants as of 2021. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality and the capital of Östergötland County. Linköping is also the episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping (Church ...

, a post he held for two years. In 1957 he was appointed Inspector of the Swedish Anti-Aircraft Artillery. He retired in 1964.

Sports career

In the modern pentathlon, Thofelt won the gold medal in the 1928 Olympics and finished fourth in 1932 and 1936, competing in 1932 with broken ribs and injured arm due to a bad fall from the horse. In fencing, he won two team medals in 1936 and 1948, finishing ninth individually in 1932.Sven Thofelt
sports-reference.com He also won four bronze and two silver medals in the team épée at the world championships of 1931–1947. Nationally Thofelt won six titles in the modern pentathlon, three in the individual épée, and one in the 4 × 100 m

freestyle swimming Freestyle is a category of Swimming (sport), swimming competition, defined by the rules of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), in which competitors are subject to a few limited restrictions on their swimming stroke. Freestyle races ar ...

. In parallel with his military career, he served as a sports administrator. In 1948 he became secretary-general of the

Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne The ''Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne'' ( en, International Modern Pentathlon Union), commonly known by the acronym UIPM, has been the international governing body of modern pentathlon since its foundation in London in 1948. Its hea ...

, and in 1960–1988 served as its president. He was also president of the Swedish Fencing Federation (1968) and of the executive board of the Swedish Olympic Committee (1969–76). Between 1970 and 1976 Thofelt was an

IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...

member and later an IOC honorary member.Sven Thofelt
Swedish Olympic Committee Thofelt was the Swedish team leader at the 1956 Summer Olympics, where his son

Björn Bjorn (English, Dutch), Björn (Swedish, Icelandic, Dutch, and German), Bjørn (Danish, Faroese and Norwegian), Beorn (Old English) or, rarely, Bjôrn, Biorn, or Latinized Biornus, Brum (Portuguese), is a Scandinavian male given name, or less oft ...

competed in the modern pentathlon. Björn previously won the world title in 1954.Björn Thofelt
Swedish Olympic Committee

Personal life

In 1932, Thofelt married Birgit Friis (born 1910), the daughter of Lieutenant General

Torsten Friis Lieutenant General Torsten Friis (1 August 1882 – 21 April 1967) was a Swedish Air Force officer. Friis was initially a fortification officer and was commanding officer of the Field Telegraph Corps from 1928 to 1932 and chief of the Military ...

and Lotty Salin. They had five children: Lars (1933–2021),

(born 1935), (1939–2010), Hans (born 1942) and Ulla (born 1944).

Dates of rank

*1924 – Second lieutenant *1928 –

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

*1937 – Captain *1943 – Major *1949 – Lieutenant colonel *1954 –

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

Awards and decorations

Swedish

King Gustaf V's Jubilee Commemorative Medal (1948) * Order_of_the_Polar_Star_-_Ribbon_bar,_pre_1975

King Gustaf V's Commemorative Medal (1951) * Royal_Order_of_the_Sword_-_Commander_1st_Class_BAR

Commander 1st CLass of the

Order of the Sword The Royal Order of the Sword (officially: ''Royal Order of the Sword''; Swedish: ''Kungliga Svärdsorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration created by King Frederick I of Sweden on February 23, 1748, together with the ...

Swedish Central Federation for Voluntary Military Training Medal of Merit in silver * Swedish Fencing Federation Gold Medal (''Svenska fäktförbundets guldmedalj'') * Swedish Military Sports Association Gold Medal (''Sveriges militära idrottsförbunds guldmedalj'', SvmifbGM) * Swedish Sports Confederation Gold Medal (''Sveriges riksidrottsförbunds guldmedalj'', SvrifbGM) * Stockholm Air Defence Association Silver Medal (''Stockholms luftvärnsförenings silvermedalj'') * Commemorative Medal on the occasion of the second Lingiad (''Minnesmedalj med anledning av andra Lingiaden'') (1949)

Foreign

CHL_Order_of_Merit_of_Chile_-_Commander_BAR

Commander of the Order of Merit * PRT_Military_Order_of_Aviz_-_Commander_BAR

Commander of the

Military Order of Aviz The Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz ( pt, Ordem Militar de São Bento de Avis, ), previously to 1910 ''Royal Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz'' ( pt, Real Ordem Militar de São Bento de Avis), previously to 1789 ''Knights'' (of ...

FIN_Order_of_the_White_Rose_Knight_1st_Class_BAR

Knight 1st Class of the

Order of the White Rose of Finland The Order of the White Rose of Finland ( fi, Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunta; sv, Finlands Vita Ros’ orden) is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. ...

Knight of the

Order of the German Eagle The Order of Merit of the German Eagle (german: Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler) was an award of the German Nazi regime, predominantly to foreign diplomats. The Order was instituted on 1 May 1937 by Adolf Hitler. It ceased to be awarded follo ...

* French Gold Medal ''de l’Education Physique'' * 2nd Class of the Finland's Olympic Cross of Merit (''Suomen Olympialainen 2. luokan ansioristin'')

Honours

*Member of the

Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences The Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences ( sv, Kungliga Krigsvetenskapsakademien) is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden and was founded on 12 November 1796 by Gustaf Wilhelm af Tibell. The academy is an independent organization and a forum for m ...

(1956)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thofelt, Sven 1904 births 1993 deaths Swedish Army colonels Swedish male modern pentathletes Swedish male épée fencers Olympic modern pentathletes for Sweden Olympic fencers for Sweden Modern pentathletes at the 1928 Summer Olympics Modern pentathletes at the 1932 Summer Olympics Modern pentathletes at the 1936 Summer Olympics Fencers at the 1932 Summer Olympics Fencers at the 1936 Summer Olympics Fencers at the 1948 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists for Sweden Olympic silver medalists for Sweden Olympic bronze medalists for Sweden Olympic medalists in fencing Olympic medalists in modern pentathlon Sportspeople from Stockholm Medalists at the 1928 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1936 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences