Andreas Gustafsson

Bo Andreas Gustafsson (Born 10 August 1981 in Gothenburg) is a Swedish race walker.[1] He has represented his country at the World Championship in Athletics on four occasions. He qualified for 2 Olympics by making the IAAF standard B in 2008 and IAAF standard A in 2012, but was not selected on the Swedish Olympic Team. His highest accomplishment is a 20th-place finish at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany. He was also 12th at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona and 21st at the 2011 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea.[2]

Bo Andreas Gustafsson
Andreas Gustafsson in 2013
Personal information
Born (1981-08-10) August 10, 1981
Gothenburg, Sweden
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight148 lb (67 kg)
Sport
CountrySweden
Event(s)20km walk, 50km walk
Coached by
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
  • One mile walk (indoor): 5:34:45
  • 5000 meter walk (indoor): 20:11:20
  • 3000 meter walk: 11:08:65
  • 5000 meter walk: 19:24:80
  • 10,000 meter walk: 39:32:08
  • 20,000 meter walk: 1:23:43
  • 10km walk: 40:27
  • 20km walk: 1:21:51
  • 50km walk: 3:50:47

At the 2012 USATF Pan American race walk trials in Valley Cottage, NY he became the third fastest Swedish race walker in history by walking 3:50:47 in the Men's Open 50 km race which is his Personal Best. In March 2015 the Swedish Sports Confederation announced that they had banned him for two years for testing positive for EPO.

He is a Commercial Pilot by education.[3] His father and coach is Olympic silver medalist Bo Gustafsson.

In 2022, the U.S. Center for SafeSport provisionally suspended Gustafsson for “sexual misconduct.”[4] USA Track & Field told its members that Gustafsson was prohibited “from participating ... in any ... activity, or competition authorized by, organized by or under the auspices of the USOPC, the National Governing Bodies recognized by the USOPC, a Local Affiliated Organization ... or at a facility under the jurisdiction of the same.”[4]

Athletic career

College

In 2000, Andreas Gustafsson placed 21st at the World Junior Athletics Championships in Santiago, Chile.

Professional

After college he retired but came back in 2007 and qualified for the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan by placing 26th at the European Cup in a time of 4:00:48 in his 50 km debut.

In 2008 he was qualified to walk the Olympics with an IAAF "B" standard, but was denied a spot by the Swedish Olympic Committee. In 2009 Andreas headed to the World Athletics Championships with the slowest qualifying time but ended up getting 20th in a 3-minute personal best of 3:57:53 out of 47 qualified. His best international accomplishment might have came in Barcelona the next year were he placed 12th at the European Championships in Athletics in a time of 3:58:02 after a battle against Colin Griffin from Ireland who ended up beating him by 4 seconds in the final kilometer.

At the 2011 World Athletics Championships in Daegu he placed 21st. Andreas was qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games in London walking 3:54:08 in Congers, New York, but was rejected for a spot by the Swedish Olympic Committee once again who as a rule only send athletes with a capability of placing at least 8th. He ended the season with a lifetime personal best in 3:50:47 in Valley Cottage, New York.[5]

In 2013, Andreas placed 5th at the 20 kilometer race in Podebrady, Czech Republic in a career best of 1:21:51 and was then qualified for both the 20 kilometer and 50 kilometer walk at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow. He ended up getting 39th in the 50 kilometer race in a time of 4:01:40.[5]

In 2014 Andreas won the s Millrose Games beating defending World Champion Robert Heffernan from Ireland in a time of 5:34:45 missing the World Record by 8 tenths of a second.[5] In January 2019, Andreas transferred his allegiance to the United States.[5] On January 25 of 2020, Andreas won the U.S.A Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 50 km Walk in a time of 4 hours, 12 minutes and 11 seconds.

Sexual abuse complaint; suspension

American racewalker Robyn Stevens said she was repeatedly raped by Gustafsson, over two and a half years starting in February 2017.[4] Concerned that he was victimizing other female athletes, she filed a complaint with the U.S. Center for SafeSport in late 2020.[4] In August 2022 SafeSport provisionally suspended Gustafsson for "sexual misconduct."[4] USA Track & Field told its members that Gustafsson was prohibited “from participating, in any capacity, in any event, program, activity, or competition authorized by, organized by or under the auspices of the USOPC, the National Governing Bodies recognized by the USOPC, a Local Affiliated Organization ... or at a facility under the jurisdiction of the same.”[4] Gustafsson confirmed that he had consensual sex with Stevens multiple times while still married to his wife, but said it was consensual and "... she loved the sex we had together. She loved it. So, you know, her coming up a victim later on, that’s on her.”[4]

Achievements
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing  Sweden
2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics Santiago, Chile 21st 10,000 metres walk 45:21
2007 European Race Walking Cup Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa 26th 50 km walk 4:00:48
2009 World Championships in Athletics Berlin, Germany 20th 50 km walk 3:57:53
2010 European Athletics Championships Barcelona, Spain 12th 50 km walk 3:58:02
2011 World Championships in Athletics Daegu, Korea 21st 50 km walk 4:00:05
2013 World Championships in Athletics Moscow, Russia 39th 50 km walk 4:01:40

Personal records
Distance Performance Location
One mile walk (indoor) 5:34:45 New York City
5000 meter walk (indoor) 20:11:20 Eskilstuna, SWE
3000 meter walk 11:08:65 San Diego
5000 meter walk 19:24:80 San Diego
10,000 meter walk 39:32:08 Helsinki, FIN
20,000 meter walk 1:23:43 San Diego
10 km walk 40:27 Podebrady, CZE
20 km walk 1:21:51 Podebrady, CZE
50 km walk 3:50:47 Valley Cottage

Doping case

In March 2015 Gustafsson was provisionally suspended from sports after a sample from December 2014 had been found positive for a prohibited substance. Gustafsson waived the right to have the B sample tested.[6] On 6 March 2015 the Swedish Sports Confederation announced that they had banned him for two years for testing positive for EPO.[7]

Personal life

Gustafsson was born in Gothenburg, Sweden. When he was 15 years old he moved to Huntington Beach CA after his mother married an American. He ran track for Mission Viejo High School. He went to School at Utah Valley University graduating with a degree in aviation. He is a commercial pilot.

He is married to his wife Molly and has two boys, Dylan Henning and Elijah David. His father and life-long coach, Bo Gustafsson was an Olympic silver medalist in 1984 in the 50 kilometer walk.[8]

References
  1. Baxter, Kevin (9 July 2012). "John Nunn is a tough cookie who walks the walk". LA Times. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  2. "Athletes currently suspended from all competitions in athletics following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation as at: 06.08.15". iaaf.org. IAAF. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  3. "Athlete Profile: Andreas Gustafsson". IAAF. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  4. Stone, Ken (16 August 2022). "Olympian Robyn Stevens' Sex Assault Allegations Spur Lifetime Ban of Ex-Coronado Coach". Times of San Diego.
  5. "Andreas GUSTAFSSON | Profile | iaaf.org". www.iaaf.org. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  6. Dopad gångare avböjer B-provsanalys , Svenska Dagbladet, 27 March 2015
  7. Gångaren får längre avstängning, Svenska Dagbladet, 6 May 2015
  8. "Athletes Pursue Excellence at Olympics". ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
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