Eric Backman
A Swedish distance runner whose explosive final laps delivered Olympic glory, capturing silver and bronze medals on the Antwerp track in 1920.
1896–1965 (age 69)·Swedish long-distance runner·Birthday: May 18·The Lost Generation
Biography
Eric Backman's moment in the sun was brilliant and concentrated, unfolding over a few days at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics. The Swedish long-distance runner arrived as a contender but left as a double medalist, showcasing a tactical prowess defined by a devastating finishing kick. In the 10,000 meters, he stayed with the lead pack before unleashing a powerful sprint in the final lap to seize the silver medal. Just days later, in the 8,000-meter cross-country race, he repeated the feat, using his speed over the final stretch to clinch the bronze. These performances cemented his reputation as a fierce competitor who conserved energy for a precise, winning move. While his international career was relatively brief, centered on that triumphant Olympic fortnight, his success contributed to Sweden's strong middle-distance running tradition. Backman's legacy is that of a perfect tactician, an athlete who understood that races are often won not by who starts fastest, but by who has the most left at the end.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Eric was born in 1896, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1896
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1896Born
First modern Olympic Games held in Athens
President: Grover Cleveland
1901Started school
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Became a teenager
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1912Could drive
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1914Could vote
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1917Turned 21
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Turned 30
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1936Turned 40
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1946Turned 50
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 60
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Died at 69
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
Key Achievements
- Won the silver medal in the 10,000 meters at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp.
- Captured the bronze medal in the 8,000-meter cross-country event at the same 1920 Games.
- Set multiple Swedish national records in distance events during his athletic career.
Did You Know?
The 1920 Olympic cross-country race was run in extreme heat, leading to many athletes collapsing; only 15 of the 39 starters finished.
He was a member of the Swedish athletic club SoIK Hellas, based in Norrköping.
Backman also competed in the 3,000-meter team race at the 1920 Olympics, where the Swedish team finished fourth.
“The last lap is the only one they remember.”
