Viktor Smeds


Viktor Reinhold Smeds was a Finnish sportsleader and a boxer, who also won an Olympic bronze in gymnastics.

Sport

He was one of the most significant and internationally best-known sports leaders of his generation in Finland. His impact was especially pivotal in boxing. He also developed strength sports and wrestling, and won an Olympic medal in gymnastics.

Olympics

GamesSportEventRankNotes
1908 Summer OlympicsGymnasticsMen's team3rdSource:
1924 Summer OlympicsBoxingLight heavyweightDid not startSource:

He was the leader of the Finnish Olympic boxing team in 1932 and 1936.
He was a wrestling judge at the 1920, 1924 and 1928 games, and a jury chairman in
1936 and 1948. He was a boxing judge at the 1928 and 1932 games and a jury chairman in 1948. He oversaw the boxing events at the 1952 games.
He sat in the board of the Finnish Olympic Committee for about 20 years.

Other sport

He represented Finland in Nordic students' rowing competition twice. His team placed 3rd in 1907, and 1st in 1908.
He won the Finnish championship in boxing in light heavyweight in 1923 and heavyweight in 1925.

Sports leader

He founded the club Lovisa Tor. He was the chairman of Helsingin Atleettiklubi in 1920–1924.
He founded the boxing club Helsingin Nyrkkeilyseura in 1920 and the Finnish Boxing Federation in 1923. He was the president of the federation until his death, except for one year-long break. He held influential positions in the International Boxing Association, eventually a vice president. He also wrote some boxing-related guides.
He was the president of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles in 1929–1952. He also was the chairman of the wrestling chapter of Finnish Gymnastics and Sports Federation in 1921–1922.

Career

He completed his matriculation exam in Vaasa Swedish Lycaeum in 1904, and graduated as a filosofian kandidaatti from the University of Helsinki in 1907.
He moved to Loviisa to teach Russian, gymnastics and physical education in 1909. He was also the local police chief.
He was a businessman in various companies first in Saint Petersburg in 1916–1918 and then in Helsinki from 1918. He started his own business in 1940.

Family

His parents were farmer Johan Erik Smeds and Lovisa Båsk. His second wife was Helena Somow, married 1927. His third wife was Greta Carlson, married 1952. He had two children:
  1. Tove Maria, born 1912
  2. Björn