Viktor Balck

Viktor Gustaf Balck (25 April 1844 – 31 May 1928) was a Swedish Army officer and sports personality who was one of the original members of the International Olympic Committee, president of the International Skating Union for 30 years, the driving force behind the Nordic Games, and who is often called "the father of Swedish sports".

Military career

Balck was born in Karlskrona, Sweden, and was a sailor in his youth. In 1861, he joined the Swedish War Academy at Karlberg in Stockholm as an officer cadet of the Swedish Navy. After a while, he switched track to become a cadet for the Swedish Army, and was active in fencing and gymnastics. He stayed on as assistant gymnastics instructor at Karlberg for a while, and in 1866 was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Närke Regiment. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1875, in the same regiment, and to captain in 1884.

However, Balck's military career came to be devoted almost entirely to gymnastics and sports. He was assistant instructor at Karlberg from 1868 to 1870, then gymnastics teacher at the Swedish Army Riding and Horse-Driving School at Strömsholm, 1870-1872. He became an instructor of military gymnastics and fencing at the Royal Central Gymnastics Institute in 1885, was chief instructor in the same subject, 1887-1909, and the Institute's director 1907-1909. He was promoted to major in the Swedish Army in 1894, to lieutenant colonel in 1900, and to colonel in 1904. He was called "Father of the Nordic Games". His ice skating career also included the construction of the "Balck skate".

In recognition of his international sports career, Balck was appointed as an honorary Knight Commander of the British Order of St Michael and St George, so in Britain he was styled as "Viktor Balck, KCMG".

Commander First Class of the Order of Vasa Knight of the Order of Vasa Commander of the Order of the Black Star with star Knight Second Class of the Order of the Crown with star Knight Second Class of the Order of Saint Stanislaus with star Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) Commander of the Order of the Redeemer Knight Second Class of the Order of the Red Eagle Officer of the Legion of Honour Knight of the Order of Leopold Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy Knight of the Order of St. Olav Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword Officier d'Académie