Eric Backman 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....

 athlete who competed mainly in the 3000 metre team.

He competed for Sweden at 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....

 held in Antwerp, Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

 where he won the silver medal in the men's cross country behind the legendary Paavo Nurmi

Paavo Nurmi

Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish runner. Born in Turku, he was known as one of the "Flying Finns," a term given to him, Hannes Kolehmainen, Ville Ritola, and others for their distinction in running...

. This second place helped the Swedish team, which also included Gustaf Mattsson

Gustaf Mattsson

Gustaf Isidor Mattsson was a Swedish athlete who competed mainly in the Cross Country Team.He competed for a Sweden in the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium in the Cross Country Team where he won the bronze medal with his team mates Eric Backman and Hilding Ekman....

 and Hilding Ekman

Hilding Ekman

Hilding Viktor Ekman was a Swedish athlete who competed mainly in the Cross Country Team.He competed for a Sweden in the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium in the Cross Country Team where he won the bronze medal with his team mates Eric Backman and Gustaf Mattsson.-References:...

, to the bronze medal behind Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

 and Great Britain

Great Britain

Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

.

He also competed in the 3,000 metre team where he won another Bronze medal with his team mates Sven Lundgren

Sven Lundgren

Sven Emil Lundgren was a Swedish athlete who competed mainly in the 3000 metre team.He competed for Sweden in the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium where he won the bronze medal in the 3000 metre team with his team mates Eric Backman and Edvin Wide....

 and Edvin Wide

Edvin Wide

Emil Edvin Wide was a Swedish long-distance runner.Born in Finland, Wide competed for Sweden at the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium, in the 3000 metre team, where he won the bronze medal with his team mates Eric Backman and Sven Lundgren.He returned to the Olympics four years later...

. He competed his tally of four medals in one Olympics by winning the bronze medal in the 5,000 metres again finishing behind Paavo Nurmi

Paavo Nurmi

Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish runner. Born in Turku, he was known as one of the "Flying Finns," a term given to him, Hannes Kolehmainen, Ville Ritola, and others for their distinction in running...

 but the race was won by France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 with Joseph Guillemot

Joseph Guillemot

Joseph Guillemot was a French athlete, winner of 5000 m at the 1920 Summer Olympics.Born in Le Dorat, France, Joseph Guillemot's lungs were severely damaged by mustard gas, when he fought in World War I. Also his heart was located on the right hand side of his chest...

.