Birger Asplund

Karl Birger Asplund (born July 21, 1929 in Baksjönäset, Åre, Jämtland, Sweden^[1]) is a retired Swedish track and field athlete known primarily for the hammer throw. He represented his native country in three Olympics from 1956 to 1964. He was a finalist in 1956, but was unable to land a fair throw in the final.^[2] He was more successful in the 1958 European Athletics Championships when he set his national record while finishing in 6th place. He also competed in 1954.

Late in his career at age 41 he set the Masters M40 World Record at 64.70m which he held for almost two years until it was surpassed by Hal Connolly who won the gold medal at the 1956 Olympics. Ashland's record was more than a meter and a half further than Connolly threw in the Olympics.

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