Joakim Nilsson is a Swedish former All-American javelin thrower who competed for the University of Alabama 1991-1995. At the end of his career, he was awarded the prestigious Bryant Student Athlete Award (1995), named after Paul "Bear" Bryant

Bear Bryant

Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...

. Joakim's younger brother, Mats Nilsson, carried on the strong family tradition and won the NCAA Division 1 javelin title in 1997.