Born: 7 June 1893

Deceased: 14 April 1938

Birthplace: Stockholm (Sweden)

Nationality: Sweden

Sport: Skating

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Antwerp 1920

Chamonix 1924

St. Moritz 1928

Lake Placid 1932

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 3

Silver: 1

Other results:

World Championships

3 Gold (22, 24, 29)

Figure Skating's Early Innovator

Gillis Grafström was one of figure skating's greatest innovators. Among his inventions were the spiral, the change sit spin and the flying sit spin. He also earned more Olympic medals than any figure skater in history. In 1920, the six judges gave Grafström a unanimous victory. In 1924, he edged Willy Böckl for a second gold medal and in 1928 he won an even narrower victory over Böckl for a third. Finally, at the 1932 Lake Placid Olympics, the 38-year-old Grafström was dethroned by Karl Schäfer. However he did win the silver medal to become the only figure skater to win four medals.