While this blog focuses on language a lot, we try to introduce everyone to a bit of Swedish culture as well.  Sometimes that culture is humorous, like Swedish Stereotypes. Again, other times it looks at pop culture. Sometimes though, that culture can be tinged with a bit of sadness for many Swedes. This is one of those times.  Over the weekend, one of the most famous athletes in Swedish history, Sven Tumba, died in Stockholm. He was 80 years old.

Tumba was known throughout Sweden for his athletic prowess. He excelled as a hockey player in the 1950s and ‘60s for Djurgården, one of the professional teams in Stockholm and was a star for the Swedish national hockey team winning several world championship medals.  He was eventually inducted into the International Hockey Hall of Fame and Swedes voted him as the best ever Swedish hockey player. But it was not just his hockey skills that made Tumba such a popular athlete in Sweden.

In the 1950s, Tumba was also a renowned soccer player and made an appearance for the Swedish national team in soccer as well as winning a championship with Djurgården.  After leaving both hockey and soccer behind, Tumba continued his athletic career. This time in golf.  Eventually Tumba became one of the most influential figures in the game of golf in Sweden and is often credited with making the game such a popular activity in Sweden.

Elitserien, the highest level of Swedish professional hockey, held a minute of silence before the start of every game on the day of his death.