Aug 15, 2024

Swedens first female Olympics Gold medalist is a bad ass.

Being a female athlete in the early 1900's wasn't easy. Doctors advised against it. Saying women would become hysterical from such demanding tasks, even sterile at worst from excersizing. Yet, the harsh recommendations did not stop women from participating in sports.

Do you know who the woman in the picture is? It is Sweden's first female Olympic medallist! In 1912, Greta Johansson won the Olympic gold in diving during a break from her work. She was graced with a couple hours off. Enough time to compete in the Stockholm Olympics known as the "Sunshine Olympiade", thanks to exceptionall good weather. Greta Johansson returned to work as the first female ever to win Olympic gold in diving.

Award ceremony. King Gustav V 1912. Picture: SVT

Stockholm was the host of the Olympics this year. Greta received the gold medal from the Swedish king himself, Gustav the 5th. Despite Swedens protest to even hold the firs ever Olympic female diving and swiming games, as it was considered so dangerous to womens health.

Greta took the tram back with the Olympic gold in hand, fantasizing that people must think she was a jeweler's maid. She was only 17 years old at the time.

Award winning dive jump. Greta Johansson 1912. Picture: SVT

Right now there is a documentary on SVT play called "Guld Greta - a breathtaking love story". She married No. 7 in men's diving team from the same Olympics a few years later. Together they began working at Stanford in US where they relocated, to refine and train the next generation of winning swimmers. An absolutely incredible story about Greta and Sthlm undergoing a major transformation. Growing up, she lived where today's City Hall is located. Both her home and Strömbadet(which was a swimming facility in Mälaren, the epicentrum of Swedens most promising swim athletes), just north of Riddarholmen, are long gone. Not yet gone is the memory of Greta Johansson, the badass who scored the firs Swedish Gold olympic medal as a female. And Gretas friends, the brave emigrating diving girls, who made a success in the country "over there" as a circus act.
Did you know about Greta Johansson and Swedens successful female diving team?

Stömenbadet. Picture SVT

1912 Olympic motivational sign. De Coubertin quote. Picture: SVT
Greta Johanssons swimming friends. 1912. Picture: SVT

Article about the emigrated "Diving Norins". Picture: SVT

Diving Norins poster. Picture: SVT

Greta Johansson holding a picture of herself at the Olympics. Picture: SVT