Nils-Joel ENGLUND

Nils Englund’s first major international success was at the 1933 World Championships in Innsbruck, winning gold in the 18 km event, which was contested for the first time, as well as in the relay, in which he skied the third leg. In 1934, World Championships where held in the Swedish town of Sollefteå, where he won a silver medal in the 50 km and bronze in the relay, again running the third leg. Perhaps his greatest success came at the 1935 World Championships in Vysoke Tatry when he won the 50 km, more than 12 minutes ahead of silver medalist Klaes Karppinen, and took another bronze medal in the relay, this time running the final leg. At the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, he won the bronze medal over the 50 km, completing a Swedish medal sweep.

On the club level Englund competed for Bodens BK and later for Hudiksvalls IF, winning the Swedish championship over 50 km in 1934 and the relay in 1937. In Finland, he won the 50 km race at the Winter Games in Puijo in 1935, and the same event in Rovaniemi the following year, both as the first foreigner.