A Race He Wasn’t Allowed to Enter
In July 1951, Sweden watched in amazement as 66-year-old Nils Gustaf Håkansson cycled the entire Sverigeloppet, a grueling 1,764 km (1,096 miles) race from Haparanda to Ystad. Officially barred due to the 40-year age limit, Håkansson wasn’t deterred.
Wearing a bib his wife Maria made with a big red zero, he set off one minute after the last racer. While the official contestants slept, Håkansson often rode through the night, determined to reach the finish line.
The Nation Watches Stålfarfar Roll South
Known as Stålfarfar, or “Steel Grandpa,” since the late 1940s, Håkansson caught the public’s imagination with his long white beard and unstoppable spirit. Newspapers followed his progress daily. In Söderhamn, police insisted on a health check — he passed with flying colors.
After 6 days, 14 hours, and 20 minutes, Håkansson arrived in Ystad, beating the official racers by a full 24 hours. Waiting for him was a parade with a marching band, fire brigades, and crowds cheering as younger men lifted him on their shoulders.
A Meeting with the King and Newfound Fame
The day after finishing the race, Håkansson was invited for an audience with King Gustaf VI Adolf. His fame soared. He appeared in advertisements, performed religious songs in folk parks and retirement homes, and even recorded a record at Liseberg amusement park — earning recognition as the world’s oldest recording artist at the time.
A Life on the Move Until the End
Håkansson’s adventures didn’t stop there. In 1959, he cycled all the way to Jerusalem to visit holy sites. Remarkably, he continued cycling well past his 100th birthday.
Håkansson died in 1987 at almost 102, just a year after his wife Maria, who had lived to nearly 105. They are buried together with their son at Kvistofta Church. Today, a permanent exhibition at Johannamuseet in Skurup commemorates the man Sweden will never forget: Stålfarfar, the unstoppable cyclist.
In July 1951, 66-year-old Nils Gustaf Håkansson shocked Sweden by cycling the 1,764 km Sverigeloppet, a race he was barred from due to age.
Starting one minute after the last racer, wearing a bib with a red zero, he rode day and night, capturing the nation’s attention…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/UVeuVIPT88
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) July 16, 2025