Biography

Anders Gärderud is a Swedish former track and field athlete, winner of the 3000 m steeplechase event at the Montreal 1976: Games of the XXI Olympiad (1976).

Gärderud experimented with several events before rising to athletic greatness in the 3000 m steeplechase. His first major competition were the Mexico City 1968: Games of the XIX Olympiad (1968), where he was eliminated in the heats of 800 m and 1500 m. In the following years, Gärderud concentrated only on the 3000 m steeplechase, and was already a main favorite at the Munich 1972: Games of the XX Olympiad (1972), but suffering from a cold, he was eliminated in his heat. Gärderud was also eliminated in the heats of the 5000 m at the Olympics, but only seven days later, he set a new 3000 m steeplechase world record of 8:20.8.

At the 1974 European Championships in Rome, Gärderud was narrowly beaten by Bronislaw Malinowski of Poland, but managed to break the 3000 m steeplechase world record twice in 1975. At first he ran 8:10.4 and only six days later 8:09.8 minutes.

The culmination of Gärderud's career was at the Montreal 1976: Games of the XXI Olympiad (1976), where after a stirring contest with Bronislaw Malinowski and Frank Baumgartl, Gärderud won the gold medal in a new world record of 8:08.02. His stirring victory in that event would earn him a share of the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal with cyclist Bernt Johansson.

After retiring from competitions Gärderud worked as a TV commentator of athletics events and as the head coach of the Swedish athletics team.
- IMDb mini biography by: Bazza the Beast