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Eric Backman

1896 – 1965

Athletics competitor

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About Eric Backman

Lived 1896 – 1965 (aged 69). Eric Backman was a Swedish athletics competitor.

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.

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 the other Swedes 10th and 12th; this time, Backman did not receive an individual medal, but he again pulled up the Swedish team to 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.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Eric Natanael Backman

People in Eric Backman's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Eric Backman's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Eric Backman?

athletics competitor (1896–1965)

When was Eric Backman born?

Eric Backman was born on 18 May 1896 in Acklinga parish.

When did Eric Backman die?

Eric Backman died on 29 June 1965 in Skövde.

What was Eric Backman's occupation?

Eric Backman was an athletics competitor.

What nationality was Eric Backman?

Eric Backman was Swedish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Eric Backman

· Wikidata: Q655549

· DBpedia: Eric Backman

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Eric Backman. https://biography.guide/eric-backman/

MLA: "Eric Backman." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/eric-backman/.

Chicago: "Eric Backman." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/eric-backman/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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