Eric Otto Valdemar Lemming (22 February 1880 – 5 June 1930) was a Swedish track and field athlete who competed at the 1900, 1906, 1908 and 1912 Olympics in a wide variety of events, which mostly involved throwing and jumping.[3] He had his best results in the javelin throw, which he won at the 1906–1912 Games, and in which he set multiple world records between 1899 and 1912. His last record, measured at 62.32 m, was ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations as the first official world record.

Eric Lemming
Personal information
Full nameEric Otto Valdemar Lemming
Born22 February 1880
Gothenburg, Sweden
Died5 June 1930 (aged 50)
Gothenburg, Sweden
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight88 kg (194 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Jumping, throwing
ClubIS Lyckans Soldater, Göteborg;
Göteborgs IF
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)HJ – 1.70 m (1900)
PV – 3.20 m (1900)
LJ – 6.34 m (1906)
TJ – 12.72 m (1903)
SP – 13.10 m (1918)
DT – 44.90 m (1917)
HT – 46.84 m (1917)
JT – 62.32 m (1912)[1][2]
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Intercalated Games
Gold medal – first place 1906 Athens Javelin throw
Bronze medal – third place 1906 Athens Shot put
Bronze medal – third place 1906 Athens Pentathlon
Bronze medal – third place 1906 Athens Tug of war
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1908 London Freestyle javelin
Gold medal – first place 1908 London Javelin throw
Gold medal – first place 1912 Stockholm Javelin throw

Javelin throw was not part of the 1900 Olympics, where Lemming finished fourth in the hammer throw, high jump and pole vault. At the 1906 Intercalated Games he won a gold medal in the javelin throw and three bronze medals, in the shot put, tug of war and ancient pentathlon, which consisted of a standing long jump, discus throw (ancient style), javelin throw, 192 m run, and a Greco-Roman wrestling match. He also finished fourth in the discus throw and stone throwing contests.[1]

At the 1908 Olympics, Lemming won two gold medals in two types of javelin throw, and finished eighth in the hammer throw. He won another gold medal in the javelin at his last Olympics in 1912, where his half-brother Oscar placed tenth in pentathlon.[1][4] Lemming died on 5 June 1930 at the age of 50.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Eric Lemming". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
  2. ^ Eric Lemming. trackfield.brinkster.net
  3. ^ "Eric Lemming". Olympedia. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  4. ^ Eric Lemming. Swedish Olympic Committee
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