Eila Nilsson

Eila Susanne Nilsson (20 November 1966[1] – 19 September 2022[1]) was a Swedish swimmer, masseur, therapist in Chinese medicine and lecturer in mental counseling.[2]

Eila Nilsson
Nilsson at 1996 Summer Paralympics
Personal information
Born(1966-11-20)20 November 1966
Norsjö, Sweden
Died19 September 2022(2022-09-19) (aged 55)
Skelleftehamn, Sweden
Sport
Country Sweden
SportParalympic swimming
Disability classB1
Medal record
Paralympic swimming
Representing  Sweden
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place1996 Atlanta50m freestyle B1
Gold medal – first place1996 Atlanta100m freestyle B1

Biography

Nilsson was born in Norsjö[2] and was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of three. At the age of 21, in 1987, she suffered changes in her right eye. These were treated with lasers, but she became blind on her right eye.[2] The left eye suffered from bleeding a few months later. After four specialist operations, the retina detached and she lost the sight in that eye as well. In 2017, Nilsson suffered from malignant breast cancer, which was followed by chemotherapy and radiation.[3]

Nilsson died at the age of 55.[2] Nilsson died in Skelleftehamn, Skellefteå kommun.

Merits

As a swimmer, Nilsson became a double Paralympic champion in swimming for the blind,[2] which she won at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta 1996.[4] She also won two European Championship golds and several Swedish championships. As of 2022, she still held the world record in 50 meter freestyle for the blind at 33.02 seconds.[2][5]

Sources
  1. "Minnessida för Eila Nilsson". minnessidor.fonus.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  2. Fuhrman, Bo (26 September 2022). "Dubbel olympisk mästare – Skellefteå har förlorat en stjärna i Eila Nilsson: "Ett starkt ljus har slocknat"". norran.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  3. Redaktionen (19 September 2018). "Eila blev blind men fick ett sjätte sinne". www.allas.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  4. ""Jag kan bli en lösning på arbetsplatsen"". www.srf.nu (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  5. "Eila Nilsson - IPC Profile". International Paralympic Committee. 9 January 2023.


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