Viktor Smeds

Viktor Reinhold Smeds (18 September 1885 – 22 February 1957) was a Finnish sportsleader and a boxer, who also won an Olympic bronze in gymnastics.

Viktor Smeds

Personal information
Full name	Viktor Reinhold Smeds
National team	Finland
Born	(1885-09-18)September 18, 1885 Petalax, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
Died	February 22, 1957(1957-02-22) (aged 71) Helsinki, Finland
Education	Filosofian kandidaatti, University of Helsinki, 1907
Occupation	Chief executive officer, teacher, police chief, reporter, real estate agent
Spouse(s)	? Helena Somow (1927) Greta Carlson (1952)
Sport
Sport	Gymnastics, boxing
Club	Loviisa Tor Helsingin Atleettiklubi Helsingin Nyrkkeiliseura
Medal record Representing Finland Olympic Games Men's Gymnastics 1908 London Gymnastics team

Sport

He was one of the most significant and internationally best-known sports leaders of his generation in Finland. His impact was especially pivotal in boxing. He also developed strength sports and wrestling, and won an Olympic medal in gymnastics.[1]

Olympics

Viktor Smeds at the Olympic Games

Games	Sport	Event	Rank	Notes
1908 Summer Olympics	Gymnastics	Men's team	3rd	Source: [2]
1924 Summer Olympics	Boxing	Light heavyweight	Did not start	Source: [3]

He was the leader of the Finnish Olympic boxing team in 1932 and 1936.[4]

He was a wrestling judge at the 1920, 1924 and 1928 games, and a jury chairman in 1936 and 1948. He was a boxing judge at the 1928 and 1932 games and a jury chairman in 1948. He oversaw the boxing events at the 1952 games.[4]

He sat in the board of the Finnish Olympic Committee for about 20 years.[1]

Other sport

He represented Finland in Nordic students' rowing competition twice. His team placed 3rd in 1907,[5] and 1st in 1908.[6]

He won the Finnish championship in boxing in light heavyweight in 1923 and heavyweight in 1925.[7][8]

Sports leader

He founded the club Lovisa Tor.[1] He was the chairman of Helsingin Atleettiklubi in 1920–1924.[9]

He founded the boxing club Helsingin Nyrkkeilyseura in 1920 and the Finnish Boxing Federation in 1923. He was the president of the federation until his death, except for one year-long break. He held influential positions in the International Boxing Association (amateur), eventually a vice president. He also wrote some boxing-related guides.[1]

He was the president of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles in 1929–1952.[10] He also was the chairman of the wrestling chapter of Finnish Gymnastics and Sports Federation in 1921–1922.[11]

Career

He completed his matriculation exam in Vaasa Swedish Lycaeum in 1904, and graduated as a filosofian kandidaatti (roughly Master of Arts) from the University of Helsinki in 1907.[1]

He moved to Loviisa to teach Russian, gymnastics and physical education in 1909. He was also the local police chief.[1]

He was a businessman in various companies first in Saint Petersburg in 1916–1918 and then in Helsinki from 1918. He started his own business in 1940.[1]

Family

His parents were farmer Johan Erik Smeds and Lovisa Båsk. His second wife was Helena Somow, married 1927. His third wife was Greta Carlson, married 1952. He had two children:[1]

1. Tove Maria, born 1912
2. Björn

Sources

• Siukonen, Markku (2001). Urheilukunniamme puolustajat. Suomen olympiaedustajat 1906–2000. Suuri olympiateos (in Finnish). Jyväskylä: Graface. p. 312. ISBN 951-98673-1-7.

References

1. Autio, Veli-Matti (2007). "Smeds, Viktor". In Mäkelä-Alitalo, Anneli; et al. (eds.). Suomen kansallisbiografia. Studia biographica (in Finnish). 9: Siltanen–Tott. Helsinki: Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura. pp. 122–123. ISBN 978-951-746-450-5. ISSN 1456-2138.
2. Mallon, Bill; Buchanan, Ian (2001). The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, With Commentary. Jefferson, North Carolina, United States: McFarland. pp. 185. ISBN 978-0-7864-0598-5.
3. Comité Olympique Français. Avé, M. (ed.). Les Jeux de la VIII^e Olympiade Paris 1924 – Rapport Officiel [The Games of the VIIIth Olympiad Paris 1924 – Official Report] (PDF) (in French). Paris: Librairie de France. p. 200. Retrieved 1 October 2019 – via LA84 Foundation Digital Library.
4. Lounasheimo, Ilmo; Salokangas, Atle (1993). Kehän ääreltä. 70 v. suomalaista nyrkkeilyä (in Finnish). Helsinki: Suomen nyrkkeilyliitto. pp. 82–83. ISBN 952-90-5201-4.
5. Schwey. (September 1907). "Skandinaavialaisten ylioppilaitten soutukilpailu vuonna 1907". Suomen Urheilulehti (in Finnish). pp. 466–467. ISSN 0355-6085. Retrieved 5 October 2019 – via Digital Collections of National Library of Finland.
6. "Soutu". Suomen Urheilulehti (in Finnish). July 1908. pp. 410–411. ISSN 0355-6085. Retrieved 5 October 2019 – via Digital Collections of National Library of Finland.
7. Lounasheimo, Ilmo; Salokangas, Atle (1993). Kehän ääreltä. 70 v. suomalaista nyrkkeilyä (in Finnish). Helsinki: Suomen nyrkkeilyliitto. pp. 268–270. ISBN 952-90-5201-4.
8. "SM-mitalistit 1923–1950" (in Finnish). Helsinki: Suomen Nyrkkeilyliitto. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
9. Hytönen, Mattiesko (1991). Vanhin ja kaunein. Helsingin Atleettiklubi 1891–1991 (in Finnish). Helsinki. p. 36.
10. "President". Corsier-sur-Vevey: United World Wrestling. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
11. Järvinen, Eino (1977). 70 vuotta suomalaista painia 1906–1976 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Finnish Wrestling Federation. p. 62.