Eric Backman

Eric Natanael Backman (18 May 1896 – 29 June 1965) was a Swedish long distance runner who had his best achievements at the 1920 Summer Olympics.

Eric Backman

Personal information
Born	18 May 1896 Acklinga, Sweden
Died	29 June 1965 (aged 69) Skövde, Sweden
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	3,000–10,000 m
Club	IFK Tidaholm
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	5000 m – 14:51.0 (1919) 10,000 m – 31:02.2 (1921)
Medal record Representing Sweden Olympic Games 1920 Antwerp Individual cross country 1920 Antwerp Cross country team 1920 Antwerp 3000 metre team 1920 Antwerp 5000 metres

Career

Backman won the British AAA Championships 4 miles title at the 1919 AAA Championships.

The following year at the 1920 Olympic Games, Backman won the silver medal in the 8,000 m cross-country race, 2.6 seconds behind the legendary Paavo Nurmi. This second place helped the Swedish cross-country team to win the bronze medal in the team event behind Finland and Great Britain, as two other team members finished 10th and 11th. This scenario repeated in the 3,000 m event – Backman finished second and other Swedes 10th and 12th; this time Backman did not receive an individual medal, but he again pulled up the Swedish team to the third place. In the 5,000 metres Backman finished third, again behind Paavo Nurmi.

Backman was a heavy smoker and enjoyed alcohol, yet he was an eight-time Swedish champion in the 5,000 m and 10,000 m in 1918–23, and held Swedish records over 5,000 m, 10,000 m, 5 miles and one-hour run. After 1943 he worked in the Volvo factory in Skövde.