Anders Holmertz
A relentless Swedish freestyle workhorse who anchored relay triumphs and chased individual glory in the shadow of his era's giants.
Born 1968 (age 58)·Swedish swimmer·Birthday: December 1·Generation X
Biography
Anders Holmertz was the dependable engine of Swedish swimming throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, a model of consistency in the demanding middle-distance freestyle events. While an individual global gold medal eluded him, he piled up European titles and stood on Olympic podiums, most notably winning silver in the 200m freestyle at the 1988 Seoul Games. His true value shone in relay waters, where his powerful legs as an anchor swimmer were instrumental in securing a world championship gold for Sweden in the 4x200m freestyle. Often competing in the same era as titans like Michael Gross and Matt Biondi, Holmertz's career is a testament to durability and team contribution. His rivalry and partnership with his brother, fellow swimmer Mikael Holmertz, added a compelling personal layer to his journey through the sport's highest levels.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Anders was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anders Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Anders's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the silver medal in the 200m freestyle at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
- Anchored the Swedish 4x200m freestyle relay team to gold at the 1991 World Championships.
- Set a world record in the 400m freestyle (short course) in 1990.
Did You Know?
He and his brother, Mikael Holmertz, both competed for Sweden at the 1988 Olympic Games.
He held the world record in the 400m freestyle short course for less than a month before it was broken.
He won multiple gold medals at European Championships across his career.
“My strength was in the water, in the rhythm of the 200 and 400 meters.”
