Sven Thofelt

Sven Alfred Thofelt (19 May 1904 – 1 February 1993) was a Swedish modern pentathlete and épée fencer who competed at the 1928, 1932, 1936 and 1948 Summer Olympics.

Thofelt was born on 19 May 1904 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of major Alfred Thofelt and his wife Vera Pousette.

Thofelt was commissioned as an officer after graduating from the Military Academy Karlberg in 1924 and was assigned as a second lieutenant to Svea Artillery Regiment in Stockholm.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 1928 and attended the higher course at the Artillery and Engineering College from 1928 to 1930.

In the modern pentathlon, Thofelt won the gold medal in the 1928 Olympics and finished fourth in 1932 and 1936, competing in 1932 with broken ribs and injured arm due to a bad fall from the horse.

He also won four bronze and two silver medals in the team épée at the world championships of 1931–1947.

Nationally Thofelt won six titles in the modern pentathlon, three in the individual épée, and one in the 4 × 100 m freestyle swimming.

In parallel with his military career, he served as a sports administrator.

In 1932, Thofelt married Birgit Friis (born 1910), the daughter of Lieutenant General Torsten Friis and Lotty Salin.

They had five children: Lars (1933–2021), Björn (born 1935), Bisse Thofelt (1939–2010), Hans (born 1942) and Ulla (born 1944).

In fencing, he won two team medals in 1936 and 1948, finishing ninth individually in 1932.

Thofelt was promoted to captain in the Swedish Army Ordnance Corps in 1937 and served in Göta Artillery Regiment in Gothenburg in 1938.

He served as a teacher at the Military Academy Karlberg from 1938 to 1943 when he was promoted to major and was assigned to Karlsborg Anti-Aircraft Regiment in Karlsborg.

Thofelt was an adjutant of the Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf (1938–47) and King Gustav V (1948–50).

He transferred to Stockholm Anti-Aircraft Regiment in Stockholm in 1944 and to Luleå Anti-Aircraft Corps in Luleå in 1948.

In 1948 he became secretary-general of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne, and in 1960–1988 served as its president.

Thofelt then served as a lieutenant colonel in Stockholm Anti-Aircraft Regiment in 1949 and attended the Swedish National Defence College in Stockholm in 1954.

Thofelt was promoted to colonel in 1954 and was appointed commander of the Swedish Army Anti-Aircraft School (Luftvärnsskjutskolan, LvSS) in Stockholm in 1954.

The year after Thofelt became commander of Östgöta Anti-Aircraft Regiment in Linköping, a post he held for two years.

Björn previously won the world title in 1954.

Thofelt was the Swedish team leader at the 1956 Summer Olympics, where his son Björn competed in the modern pentathlon.

In 1957 he was appointed Inspector of the Swedish Anti-Aircraft Artillery.

He retired in 1964.

He was also president of the Swedish Fencing Federation (1968) and of the executive board of the Swedish Olympic Committee (1969–76).

Between 1970 and 1976 Thofelt was an IOC member and later an IOC honorary member.