From a 19-year-old shooting star to one of the world’s most successful skaters, the story of Jonny Nilsson was incredible. The night before Wednesday came to an end when the Olympic gold medalist from 1964 died after a period of illness.
– He fell asleep last night, calm and quiet, says his wife Marianne Nilsson to TT.
The message was expected, Nilsson had been battling prostate cancer for some time.
– Life flows out of my body, I get worse and worse. I have always been a physically strong person with an enormous psyche that made me the best in the world, but now I can no longer bear it, he told Expressen last winter.
– Three Olympic gold medalists and sprinters at the Olympic Ball in the Grand Hotel’s Winter Garden in 2000, from left: Jonny Nilsson, Sigge Ericsson and Tomas Gustafson.
Photo: Gunnar Ask / TT
As a young man Jonny Nilsson became a star overnight when, at the age of 19, he took home his first World Cup gold, 10,000 meters in Moscow, in 1962. After that, he lined up successes and was the world’s undisputed skating king in the early 1960s.
In total, there were six World Cup golds, the last in 1965. In addition to the World Cup gold, he became Sweden’s third Olympic champion in the 10,000 meters, after Åke Seyffarth and Sigge Ericsson, when he had to climb to the top of the podium in Innsbruck in 1964.
Tomas Gustafson was only five years old at the time, but has met Nilsson in recent years and been inspired by him. Gustafson himself won three Olympic gold medals during his career in the 1980s.
– He was always very nice and very social. A profile that can not be imagined how big he was when he was active. Jonny was a great idol for mom and dad and they were probably happy when I started riding too.
Jonny Nilsson he experiences Nils van der Poel’s success with double Olympic gold in Beijing.
– He called and praised me for my commentary on Nils van der Poel and it meant a lot, says Gustafson and tells about Nilsson’s importance for the sport:
– He has been one of the strong profiles. If you are a little younger, you may not know him, but it takes some such profile that keeps the interest in the sport up and he did during his time.
– Jonny Nilsson was nicknamed Jonny Bråttom. Here in skating with your tongue right in your mouth.
Photo: TT
And there was no interest not only for the sport, but also for Nilsson himself. During his career, he was voted Sweden’s most popular person in 1963, before the then King Gustaf VI Adolf. He also received the Bragdguldet the same year – a year before the Olympic gold.
– It is not really possible to understand how big he was. The skate was part of the people’s soul when he was active and it was fun to get to know him in the little way I had time. I only have a lot to say about Jonny, says Tomas Gustafson.