Niklas Arrhenius

Nik Arrhenius

Arrhenius in 2015
Personal information
Birth name	Niklas Bo Arrhenius[1]
Nationality	Sweden and  United States[2]
Born	(1982-09-10) September 10, 1982 (age 42) Provo, Utah, U.S.A.
Alma mater	Mountain View High School
Height	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[3]
Weight	122 kg (269 lb)
Website	Nik Arrhenius on Twitter
Sport
Country	Sweden (2000-2022) and  United States (2022-now)[4]
Sport	Track and field / Athletics
Rank	Highest (how long held rank) DT: 33rd (8 weeks) SP: 185th (1 week)[4]
Event(s)	Discus throw and Shot put
University team	Brigham Young University Cougars
Club	Spårvägens FK[5]
Coached by	Anders Arrhenius,[6] Jay Silvester[7] and Mark Robison[6]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	DT: 66.46 m (2020)[8] SP: 19.75 m (2010) SP indoor: 19.91 m (2004)
Medal record Representing  Sweden World Junior Championships 2000 Santiago Discus throw

Niklas Bo Arrhenius (born September 10, 1982) is an American-Swedish track and field athlete who competes and coaches in the discus throw and shot put. He represented Sweden in the discus at 2008 Summer Olympics, was a four-time competitor at the World Athletics Championships (2007, 2011, 2013, and 2017), and competed at five consecutive editions of the European Athletics Championships from 2006 to 2016. At the Swedish Athletics Championships he won seven national titles in discus, and was an eight-time champion in the shot put (combined indoors and outdoors).

Early years / dual citizenship

In 1982, Arrhenius was born in Provo, Utah, U.S.A., but has dual citizenship.^[2] He is the son of Anders Arrhenius, who was born in Sweden and competed internationally in the shot put for Team Sweden.^[7]

Having competed for Sweden internationally for most of his career, Nik applied to transfer his eligibility to the United States on August 25, 2019.^[4] The decision was made on March 24, 2020, that starting August 26th, 2022, he would be eligible to represent the United States instead of Sweden.^[9]

High school years

In 2001, while competing for Mountain View High School Bruins^[10] in Orem, Utah, Nik was the national high school record holder for the discus for eight years (record holder until 2009), with a throw of 234 feet and 3 inches (breaking the previous record by nearly nine feet).^[11] Earlier that season, in 2001, he had broken the Utah state record with a throw of 218 feet, 2 inches.^[12]

Arrhenius also played for the Bruins' football team, until he suffered a knee injury, after which his father would not sign the parental permission forms for him nor his younger brother to play football.^[13]

Junior Championships

In 2000, Arrhenius earned a silver medal at the World Junior Championships. In August 2001, he then won first place at the Swedish Junior (U20) Championships, and he finished second place in the discus event at the Swedish Open Championships.^[10]

University years

In 2007, while attending BYU, Arrhenius earned the national championship in the discus throw.^[2] On his fifth throw of the day, he launched the disc 206 feet, 2 inches to pass Stanford University Cardinal's Michael Robertson. Six years after becoming the national high school championship (in 2001), he went on to win the NCAA national championship in 2007.^[14]

European Athletics Championships

In 2008, Arrhenius was the top-ranked discus thrower in European meets; while on Team Sweden.^[2] He got 4th place in the 2001 European Junior Championships, has competed in at least five European Championships and two European Indoor Championships, for results see the Competition record below.

Olympics

In 2008, Arrhenius came in 32nd place (out of 37 contestants) at the Olympics in Beijing, China, in the Men's discus throw with his best throw in the Olympics at 58.22 meters. If he had thrown his personal best record in the Olympics, he would have gone to the finals, but he would have placed no better than sixth.^[3]

History almost repeated itself, like father, like son, or déjà vu, as both had qualified for the Olympics for Team Sweden and both suffered injuries just before the Games started. Nik's blister injury was not severe enough to keep him from participating like his father's injury; However, Nik's blister did hinder him in that his best throw in the 2008 Beijing Olympics was about five meters below his season best and seven meters below his personal best. Most of all, his three throws were all short of the distance needed to move Nik into the finals, his best throw of the day was 4.26 meters short of qualifying for the finals.^[15]

World Athletic Championships

On 28 June 2013, Arrhenius qualified for the World Championships this was his fourth appearance at the World Championships having also participated in 2007, 2009 and 2011 and 2013.^[16] Since then, he has participated in one more, a fifth, World Championship, in 2017.^{[citation needed]} To see his results, go to the Competition record section below.

Coaching career

Nik Arrhenius has again followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a throws coach (more generically, assistant track coach^[16][17]) for the BYU Cougars men's and women's track and field teams (his father, Anders Arrhenius, has been a volunteer throws coach at BYU^[6]). Nik has coached Ashton Riner to the 2022 NCAA track & field championships in Eugene, Oregon.^[18]

Family of athletes and missionaries

Great-grandfather

The great-grandfather of Nik Arrhenius, Bror Aron Axel Arrhenius, started this Legacy, when he took the family name Arrhenius on 5 December 1901. He was conducting the Olympic choir at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm and he participated on the Swedish tug of war team that won gold medal. It was an exhibition sport for all of the musicians that participated from different countries.^[19]

In another account, Borr Arrhenius, was the anchor of Team Sweden’s tug-of-war team at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm.^[20]

Here is an external link to a 43-second video of the 1912 Tug of War competition:^[21]

• Olympic Tug Of War - Great Britain Defeat Sweden | Stockholm 1912 Olympics (43-second video) on YouTube

Father, Anders Hilding Arrhenius

Anders Arrhenius, was born in Sweden in 1947.^[22] Then, in 1975, he threw for BYU and received All-American honors. Anders also went on to qualify for Sweden in the 1976 Summer Olympics, but injury prevented him from participating in those Olympics. Because Anders did qualify for the Olympics, he is considered "An Olympian".^[6][23]

Mother, Kristine (née Fowler) Arrhenius

In the early 1970s, Kristine Fowler, who is from Rose Park, Salt Lake City, went to Stockholm, Sweden, on a church mission, where she first met Anders Arrhenius.^[24]

Older brother, Dr. Daniel Anders Arrhenius, PDM

Like Nik, Dan Arrhenuis was born in Provo, but in 1978, and went to Mountain View High School, where he earned all kinds of awards, honors and championships in the discus and shot put, just like Nik. Dan also did very well at BYU adding the hammer throw to the list of events, just like Nik.^[25] Dan also went on a church mission to Stockholm, Sweden, just like his mother and younger brothers, Nik and Leif.^[6] Dan met and married Amanda at BYU. What the main difference is between these two brothers (Dan and Nik) is that when Dan graduated with his degree in Exercise Science, he continued with schooling to eventually be a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), instead of continuing to compete internationally and in the Olympics.^[26]

Younger brother, Leif Hilding Arrhenius

Like Nik, Leif Arrhenius was born in Provo, Utah, but in 1986, and went to Mountain View High School, where he earned all kinds of awards, honors and championships in the discus and shot put, just like Nik and Dan.^[6] Leif also did very well at BYU adding the hammer throw to the list of events, just like Nik and Dan. Leif also went on a church mission^[20] just like his mother and older brothers, Kristine, Dan and Nik; however, Leif went to the Taipei Taiwan Mission, unlike the rest of his family that went to the Stockholm Sweden Mission. Leif graduated from BYU in 2010.^[20] Leif has even gone into coaching, like his father, Anders and brother, Nik.

Wife, Tiffany (née Rasmussen) Arrhenius

In 2004, Nik married Tiffany Rasmussen, from Oregon,^[7] who was also an athlete at BYU. She threw the Javelin and graduated in 2007.^[20][27]

Personal life

Arrhenius is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.^[28] He served as a church missionary in the Sweden Stockholm Mission.^{[29][30][10][2]} Nik achieved the rank of Eagle Scout when he was in the Boy Scouts of America as a teenager.^[27]

Competition record

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Sweden (2000-2022),  United States (2022-now)
2000	World Junior Championships	Santiago, Chile	2nd	Discus throw	59.19 m
2001	European Junior Championships	Grosseto, Italy	4th	Discus throw	53.14 m
2006	European Championships	Gothenburg, Sweden	21st (q)	Discus throw	56.62 m
2007	World Championships	Osaka, Japan	26th (q)	Discus throw	58.76 m
2008	Olympic Games	Beijing, China	32nd (q)	Discus throw	58.22 m
2010	European Championships	Barcelona, Spain	16th (q)	Shot put	18.93 m
			21st (q)	Discus throw	60.25 m
2011	European Indoor Championships	Paris, France	14th (q)	Shot put	19.21 m
	World Championships	Daegu, South Korea	28th (q)	Discus throw	60.57 m
2012	European Championships	Helsinki, Finland	22nd (q)	Discus throw	59.02 m
2013	European Indoor Championships	Gothenburg, Sweden	8th	Shot put	19.17 m
	World Championships	Moscow, Russia	24th (q)	Discus throw	59.13 m
2014	European Championships	Zürich, Switzerland	–	Discus throw	NM
2016	European Championships	Amsterdam, Netherlands	19th (q)	Discus throw	61.63 m
2017	World Championships	London, United Kingdom	24th (q)	Discus throw	58.91 m

National titles

• Swedish Athletics Championships
  • Shot put: 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Discus throw: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• Swedish Indoor Athletics Championships
  • Shot put: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018
• NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships
• Discus throw: 2007

Personal bests

• Discus throw: 66.46 m (2020)
• Shot put: 19.75 m (2010)
• Shot put indoor: 19.91 m (2004)

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Nik Arrhenius' All-time Personal Top 10 in the discus throw
Representing  Sweden (2000-2022),  United States (2022-now)
26 SEP 2020	USATF Summer Throwing	Smith Fieldhouse, BYU, Provo, Utah, U.S.A.	1st	Discus	66.46 m
08 AUG 2011	Helsingborg	Helsingborg, Sweden	1st	Discus	66.22 m
19 JUL 2016	Provo, Utah, U.S.A.	Provo, Utah, U.S.A.	1st	Discus	66.02 m
12 MAY 2011	Chula Vista OTC Thursday Invitational	Chula Vista, California, U.S.A.	2nd	Discus	65.80 m
17 MAY 2007	Salinas Discus Series	Salinas, California, U.S.A.	2nd	Discus	65.77 m
18 JUL 2017	Provo, Utah, U.S.A.	Provo, Utah, U.S.A.	1st	Discus	65.72 m
05 MAY 2009	Chula Vista World Record Challenge	Chula Vista, California, U.S.A.	3rd	Discus	65.42 m
16 MAY 2017	Orem USATF Developmental Meet	Orem, Utah, U.S.A.	1st	Discus	65.01 m
28 APR 2009	Chula Vista World Record Challenge	Chula Vista, California, U.S.A.	5th	Discus	65.00 m
20 MAY 2016	Spanish Fork Spring Throwing	Spanish Fork, Utah, U.S.A.	1st	Discus	64.83 m

See also

• List of discus throw national champions (men)
• Sweden at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
• Sweden at the 2012 European Athletics Championships
• Sweden at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics
• Sweden at the 2014 European Athletics Championships
• Sweden at the 2016 European Athletics Championships
• Sweden at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics

References

1. "Niklas Arrhenius Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 17 Apr 2020. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
2. Hill, Greg (11 Jul 2008). "Olympics draw LDS athletes". Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
3. "Olympedia - Niklas Arrhenius". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
4. "Niklas ARRHENIUS | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
5. "Olympedia - Spårvägens FK, Stockholm (SWE)". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
6. "Arrhenius heritage continues at BYU in shot, discus and hammer". www.deseret.com. 11 May 2005. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
7. Lewis, Michael C. (25 Jul 2008). "Nik Arrhenius, Track & Field, Sweden - The Salt Lake Tribune". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 17 Oct 2023.
8. "Niklas ARRHENIUS Biography, Olympic Medals, Records and Age". olympics.com. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
9. Transfers of allegiance - Decisions of the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel in 2020 (as of 8 May 2020). World Athletics (2020-05-08). Retrieved 2020-05-30.
10. Church News Archives (21 Sep 2001). "Discus thrower snares awards". www.thechurchnews.com. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
11. "Arrhenius Shatters Prep Discus Record". Salt Lake Tribune. 15 Apr 2001. Retrieved 17 Oct 2023.
12. Yount, Michael (30 Mar 2001). "Arrhenius Could Give Utah a National Record, Mountain View senior excelling in the discus; PREP TRACK PREVIEW". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 17 Oct 2023.
13. Harmon, Dick (26 May 2008). "Arrhenius is man to beat". www.deseret.com. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
14. Rasmussen, David (8 Jun 2007). "Nik's knack: Title for Arrhenius". www.deseret.com. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
15. Taylor, Scott (16 Aug 2008). "Arrhenius one-ups dad but fails in bid". www.deseret.com. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
16. Green, Justin (15 Aug 2023). "BYU track: Arrhenius competes at World Championships". www.deseret.com. Retrieved 15 Oct 2023.
17. "Niklas Arrhenius - BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU ..." byucougars.com. Retrieved 17 Oct 2023.
18. Swensen, Jason (15 Jun 2022). "BYU Javelin Star Ashton Riner Wins National Championship". churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
19. "Bror Aron Axel Arrhenius | FamilySearch.org". www.familysearch.org. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
20. Current Magazine Staff, All Writers (Fall 2007). "A Pair of Aces". Y Magazine. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
21. Olympic Tug Of War - Great Britain Defeat Sweden | Stockholm 1912 Olympics. www.youtube.com. 1912. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
22. Benson, Lee; Robinson, Doug (1 Jan 1992). Trials & Triumphs/Mormons in the Olympic Games. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company. Retrieved 13 Oct 2023.
23. Deseret News 1999-2000 Church Almanac. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News. 1998. p. 555. ISBN 1573454915.
24. Harmon, Dick (11 Jun 2007). "Like father, like son for Arrhenius clan". www.deseret.com. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
25. "Daniel Arrhenius". byucougars.com. 2004. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
26. "About Dr. Daniel Arrhenius, PDM, and Banner Safety Practices". doctors.bannerhealth.com. 2017. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
27. "ARRHENIUS NAMED TO SWEDISH OLYMPIC TEAM - BYU Athletics". byucougars.com. 4 Jul 2008. Retrieved 17 Oct 2023.
28. "Mormon Olympians Ready to Compete in Beijing". churchofjesuschrist.org. Salt Lake City, UT. 6 Aug 2008. Retrieved 16 Oct 2023.
29. Mormon Times, August 25th, 2008
30. Mormon Times, June 2nd, 2008

External links

• Nik Arrhenius at World Athletics
• Nik Arrhenius at Olympedia (archive)
• Nik Arrhenius at Olympics.com
• Nik Arrhenius at the Sveriges Olympiska Kommitté (in Swedish) (English translation)