William Grut
Encyclopedia
William Oscar Guernsey Grut (born 17 September 1914) is a Swedish
modern pentathlete
and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London
, where he received a gold medal in modern pentathlon
.
He was several times Swedish swimming champion. He received the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
in 1948.
His father was the architect Torben Andreas Grut and his mother, born Margit Torssell, was the daughter of the Norwegian opera singer Olefine Moe
.
Grut qualified as a student in May 1932, the same year his father lost everything as a consequence of the Krueger crash. Grut's first choice would have been to study medicine, and he had gained a place at Pembroke College, Cambridge, but that dream ended with the stock market crash. Gruit chose a career in the army instead, where the training was free and where he could fulfill his desire to contribute to his country's defence.
His father had been Swedish tennis champion around the turn of the century, but Grut did not follow in his footsteps, as his natural talent was swimming. Grut set a new junior record for 100 m freestyle swimming in 1928 and went on to win a series of Swedish Championships in 200 m, 400 m and 1500 m freestyle.
In 1936 Grut formed part of the Swedish swimming team at the Berlin Olympic Games, where he saw the German pentathlete Gotthard Handrick
win gold in Modern Pentathlon. Until then, Modern Pentathlon gold medals had been the preserve of Swedish pentathletes: Liliehöök
in 1912 (Stockholm), Dyrssen
in 1920 (Antwerp), Lindman
in 1924 (Paris), Thofelt
in 1928 (Amsterdam), Oxenstierna
in 1932 (Los Angeles).
As a captain in the Swedish Artillery, Grut had plenty of opportunity to train in the five Modern Pentathlon disciplines, and he made the most of every opportunity: cross-country running, riding and swimming every single day, fencing three times a week and shooting during his daily lunchbreaks.
In February 1948, Grut took part in the Winter Olympic Games held in St Moritz. He was a member of the Swedish Winter Pentathlon team (downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, shooting, fencing, riding), along with Claes Egnell
, Gustaf Lindh
and Bertil Haase
. Lindh won gold and Grut won silver. Grut saw St. Moritz as a "rehearsal" for the Summer Olympiads to be held the same year.
Grut arrived in London for the 1948 Olympic Games very well prepared. The Modern Pentathlon event was organised in Aldershot
. Grut's Swedish team mates were Gösta Gärdin
and Sune Wehlin. Grut had an element of luck in drawing a good horse, Clarian Boy, for the riding event, and from then he went on to complete his best competition result ever. Modern Pentathlon scores were calculated according to ranking in each event in those days (the lower the score, the better), and Grut's final result was 1+1+5+1+8=16, an unbroken record. Grut thereby won Olympic Gold in Modern Pentathlon. Gärdin won bronze.
Sweden took home 17 Olympic Gold Medals from London. The prestigious "Svenska Dagbladet Achievement Award" (Svenska Dagbladets Bragdmedalj) was awarded to Grut that year.
Grut stopped competing after the London Olympic Games and started managing the Swedish Modern Pentathlon team instead. He coached Lars Hall
, who went on to win two Olympic Gold Medals (Helsinki
, 1952, and Melbourne
, 1956). In 1960, Grut was elected secretary general of the International Modern Pentathlon and Biathlon Union (UIPMB), a post he held for 24 years. In his spare time, Grut took up golf — his handicap never fell below 12, but golf still brought him immense pleasure in later life.
At Karlberg military academy, Grut's sports teacher had advised his young cadets to "pursue sports until the day you die, but do not let sports be the death of you" - a piece of advice Grut took to heart and abided by all his life.
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....
modern pentathlete
Modern pentathlon
The modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run...
and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he received a gold medal in modern pentathlon
Modern pentathlon
The modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run...
.
He was several times Swedish swimming champion. He received the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
The Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal is an annual award "for the most significant Swedish sports achievement of the year". It has been awarded by a jury led by the Swedish morning paper Svenska Dagbladet since 1925. According to its statutes the Medal may be awarded in November or December to either...
in 1948.
His father was the architect Torben Andreas Grut and his mother, born Margit Torssell, was the daughter of the Norwegian opera singer Olefine Moe
Olefine Moe
Olefine Louise Margarethe Moe was a Norwegian opera singer, actress, opera director and singing teacher.She was born in Bergen, debuted as a dramatic actress on the Christiania Theatre in Christiania in 1868...
.
Grut qualified as a student in May 1932, the same year his father lost everything as a consequence of the Krueger crash. Grut's first choice would have been to study medicine, and he had gained a place at Pembroke College, Cambridge, but that dream ended with the stock market crash. Gruit chose a career in the army instead, where the training was free and where he could fulfill his desire to contribute to his country's defence.
His father had been Swedish tennis champion around the turn of the century, but Grut did not follow in his footsteps, as his natural talent was swimming. Grut set a new junior record for 100 m freestyle swimming in 1928 and went on to win a series of Swedish Championships in 200 m, 400 m and 1500 m freestyle.
In 1936 Grut formed part of the Swedish swimming team at the Berlin Olympic Games, where he saw the German pentathlete Gotthard Handrick
Gotthard Handrick
Karl Hermann Gotthard Handrick was a German Olympic athlete and German fighter pilot during the Spanish Civil War and World War II.-Career:...
win gold in Modern Pentathlon. Until then, Modern Pentathlon gold medals had been the preserve of Swedish pentathletes: Liliehöök
Gösta Lilliehöök
Gustaf Malcolm "Gösta" Lilliehöök was a Swedish modern pentathlete who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.He won a gold medal in the first contested Modern pentathlon at the Olympic Games in 1912.-External links:...
in 1912 (Stockholm), Dyrssen
Gustaf Dyrssen
Gustaf Dyrssen was a Swedish army officer, modern pentathlete and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp where he received a gold medal in modern pentathlon...
in 1920 (Antwerp), Lindman
Bo Lindman
Bo Lindman was a Swedish modern pentathlete and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris where he received a gold medal in modern pentathlon. He received a silver medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, and again at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles...
in 1924 (Paris), Thofelt
Sven Thofelt
Sven Alfred Thofelt was a Swedish modern pentathlete and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam where he received a gold medal in modern pentathlon....
in 1928 (Amsterdam), Oxenstierna
Johan Gabriel Oxenstierna (athlete)
Johan Gabriel Oxenstierna af Korsholm och Wasa was a Swedish modern pentathlete who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics....
in 1932 (Los Angeles).
As a captain in the Swedish Artillery, Grut had plenty of opportunity to train in the five Modern Pentathlon disciplines, and he made the most of every opportunity: cross-country running, riding and swimming every single day, fencing three times a week and shooting during his daily lunchbreaks.
In February 1948, Grut took part in the Winter Olympic Games held in St Moritz. He was a member of the Swedish Winter Pentathlon team (downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, shooting, fencing, riding), along with Claes Egnell
Claes Egnell
Claes Egnell is a Swedish sport shooter and modern pentathlete, and an Olympic medalist. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he received a silver medal in modern pentathlon with the Swedish team....
, Gustaf Lindh
Gustaf Lindh
Gustaf Allan Lindh is a former Swedish modern pentathlete who competed in the winter pentathlon in the 1948 Winter Olympics....
and Bertil Haase
Bertil Haase
Bertil Robert Herman Haase Vidarsson is a former Swedish modern pentathlete. He competed at both Olympic Winter and Summer Games....
. Lindh won gold and Grut won silver. Grut saw St. Moritz as a "rehearsal" for the Summer Olympiads to be held the same year.
Grut arrived in London for the 1948 Olympic Games very well prepared. The Modern Pentathlon event was organised in Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
. Grut's Swedish team mates were Gösta Gärdin
Gösta Gärdin
Gösta Gärdin is a Swedish modern pentathlete and Olympic medalist. He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he won a bronze medal in modern pentathlon.-References:...
and Sune Wehlin. Grut had an element of luck in drawing a good horse, Clarian Boy, for the riding event, and from then he went on to complete his best competition result ever. Modern Pentathlon scores were calculated according to ranking in each event in those days (the lower the score, the better), and Grut's final result was 1+1+5+1+8=16, an unbroken record. Grut thereby won Olympic Gold in Modern Pentathlon. Gärdin won bronze.
Sweden took home 17 Olympic Gold Medals from London. The prestigious "Svenska Dagbladet Achievement Award" (Svenska Dagbladets Bragdmedalj) was awarded to Grut that year.
Grut stopped competing after the London Olympic Games and started managing the Swedish Modern Pentathlon team instead. He coached Lars Hall
Lars Hall
This is an article about a Swedish pentathlete. For the advertiser, see Lars Hall .Lars Göran Ivar Hall was a Swedish modern pentathlete, world champion and Olympic champion...
, who went on to win two Olympic Gold Medals (Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, 1952, and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, 1956). In 1960, Grut was elected secretary general of the International Modern Pentathlon and Biathlon Union (UIPMB), a post he held for 24 years. In his spare time, Grut took up golf — his handicap never fell below 12, but golf still brought him immense pleasure in later life.
At Karlberg military academy, Grut's sports teacher had advised his young cadets to "pursue sports until the day you die, but do not let sports be the death of you" - a piece of advice Grut took to heart and abided by all his life.