Sven Thofelt

Sven Alfred Thofelt (19 May 1904 – 1 February 1993) was a Swedish modern pentathlete and épée fencer who competed at the 1928, 1932, 1936 and 1948 Summer Olympics.

Early life Thofelt was born on 19 May 1904 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of major Alfred Thofelt and his wife Vera Pousette.

Career

Military career Thofelt was commissioned as an officer after graduating from the Military Academy Karlberg in 1924 and was assigned as a second lieutenant to Svea Artillery Regiment in Stockholm. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1928 and attended the higher course at the Artillery and Engineering College from 1928 to 1930. Thofelt was promoted to captain in the Swedish Army Ordnance Corps in 1937 and served in Göta Artillery Regiment in Gothenburg in 1938. He served as a teacher at the Military Academy Karlberg from 1938 to 1943 when he was promoted to major and was assigned to Karlsborg Anti-Aircraft Regiment in Karlsborg. He transferred to Stockholm Anti-Aircraft Regiment in Stockholm in 1944 and to Luleå Anti-Aircraft Corps in Luleå in 1948. Thofelt then served as a lieutenant colonel in Stockholm Anti-Aircraft Regiment in 1949 and attended the Swedish National Defence College in Stockholm in 1954. He also won four bronze and two silver medals in the team épée at the world championships of 1931–1947.

Personal life In 1932, Thofelt married Birgit Friis (born 1910), the daughter of Lieutenant General Torsten Friis and Lotty Salin. They had five children: Lars (1933–2021), Björn (born 1935), (1939–2010), Hans (born 1942) and Ulla (born 1944).

Swedish Fencing Federation Gold Medal (Svenska fäktförbundets guldmedalj) Swedish Military Sports Association Gold Medal (Sveriges militära idrottsförbunds guldmedalj, SvmifbGM) Swedish Sports Confederation Gold Medal (Sveriges riksidrottsförbunds guldmedalj, SvrifbGM) Stockholm Air Defence Association Silver Medal (Stockholms luftvärnsförenings silvermedalj) Commemorative Medal on the occasion of the second Lingiad (Minnesmedalj med anledning av andra Lingiaden) (1949)

Foreign

French Gold Medal de l’Education Physique 2nd Class of the Finland's Olympic Cross of Merit (Suomen Olympialainen 2. luokan ansioristin)

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1956)