Nils Gustav Håkansson Stålfarfar, Gantofta, near Helsingborg. He was known as Gustav to his friends and as Stålfarfar (Super Grandad) to the nation. Stålfarfar was a highly dedicated cyclist, who first became famous for crossing the Scandinavian mountains by bike in 1927. In 1951 he cycled the classsic Swedish race, Haparanda - Ystad, from the top to the bottom of Sweden. The race organizers banned him because of his high age, so he set out a day early, sponsored by a Swedish evening paper. After this he became famous as Super Grandad. Later he took part in many other yearly races and in 1959, aged 74, he cycled to Israel. As his fame grew he started to sing and record music, mainly religious songs and also performed live in amusement parks. One claim is that he is also the worlds oldest recording artist. He became so popular that he broke the public attendance record at Liseberg in Gothenburg, the largest funfair in Scandinavia. He continued cycling until he was almost 100 years old. Gustav died at 102, a year after his wife, Maria, who died at 105. He was born in Helsingborg and lived most of his life in nearby Gantofta village. He is buried with his Maria and a son at Kvistofta churchyard in the home parish.
Nils Gustav Håkansson Stålfarfar, Gantofta, near Helsingborg. He was known as Gustav to his friends and as Stålfarfar (Super Grandad) to the nation. Stålfarfar was a highly dedicated cyclist, who first became famous for crossing the Scandinavian mountains by bike in 1927. In 1951 he cycled the classsic Swedish race, Haparanda - Ystad, from the top to the bottom of Sweden. The race organizers banned him because of his high age, so he set out a day early, sponsored by a Swedish evening paper. After this he became famous as Super Grandad. Later he took part in many other yearly races and in 1959, aged 74, he cycled to Israel. As his fame grew he started to sing and record music, mainly religious songs and also performed live in amusement parks. One claim is that he is also the worlds oldest recording artist. He became so popular that he broke the public attendance record at Liseberg in Gothenburg, the largest funfair in Scandinavia. He continued cycling until he was almost 100 years old. Gustav died at 102, a year after his wife, Maria, who died at 105. He was born in Helsingborg and lived most of his life in nearby Gantofta village. He is buried with his Maria and a son at Kvistofta churchyard in the home parish.
Bio by: Lennart Haglund
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