Ove Fundin

{{Short description|Swedish motorcycle speedway rider}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use British English|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox speedway rider | name = Ove Fundin | image = | nationality = Swedish | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1933|5|23|df=y}} | nickname = The Fox or The Flying Fox | birth_place = [[Tranås]], Sweden

| career1 = '''Sweden''' | years2 = 1951-1957 | career2 = [[Filbyterna]] | years3 = 1958-1971 | career3 = [[Kaparna]] | career4 = '''Great Britain''' | years5 = 1955-1964 | career5 = [[Norwich Stars]] | years6 = 1966 | career6 = [[Long Eaton Archers]] | years7 = 1967 | career7 = [[Belle Vue Aces]] | years8 = 1970 | career8 = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]

| indivhonour1 = [[Speedway World Championship|World Champion]] | indivyear1 = 1956, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1967 | indivhonour2 = [[Speedway Swedish Individual Championship|Swedish Champion]] | indivyear2 = 1956, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964,<br> 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970 | indivhonour3 = [[Continental Speedway Final|Continental Champion]] | indivyear3 = 1954 | indivhonour4 = [[Individual Speedway European Championship|European Champion]] | indivyear4 = 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1965 | indivhonour5 = [[Nordic Speedway Final|Nordic Champion]] | indivyear5 = 1955, 1961, 1963, 1967 | indivhonour6 = Pride of the East winner | indivyear6 = 1957 | indivhonour7 = [[Southern Riders' Championship|Southern Riders Champion]] | indivyear7 = 1960 | indivhonour8 = Pride of the Midlands winner | indivyear8 = 1963 | indivhonour9 = [[South Australian Individual Speedway Championship|SA State Champion]] | indivyear9 = 1960/61 | indivhonour10 = [[Western Australian Individual Speedway Championship|WA State Champion]] | indivyear10 = 1969 | indivhonour11 = [[Golden Helmet of Pardubice]] | indivyear11 = 1967 | indivhonour12 = [[Wimbledon Internationale|Internationale]] | indivyear12 = 1961, 1962, 1963 | indivhonour13 = The Laurels | indivyear13 = 1962

| teamhonour1 = [[Speedway World Team Cup|World Team Cup]] | teamyear1 = 1960, 1962, 1963,<br> 1964, 1967, 1970 | teamhonour2 = [[Speedway World Pairs Championship|World Pairs Champion]] | teamyear2 = 1968 | teamyear3 = 1968, 1970 | teamhonour3 = [[Allsvenskan (speedway)|Allsvenskan Champion]] | teamhonour4 = National Trophy | teamyear4 = 1955, 1963 }}

{{CompetitionRecordTableTop|}} {{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{SWE}} }} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[List of Individual Speedway World Championship medalists|Speedway World Championship]]}} {{MedalGold| 1956|}} {{MedalGold| 1960|}} {{MedalGold| 1961|}} {{MedalGold| 1963|}} {{MedalGold| 1967|}} {{MedalSilver| 1957|}} {{MedalSilver| 1958|}} {{MedalSilver| 1959|}} {{MedalBronze| 1962|}} {{MedalBronze| 1964|}} {{MedalBronze| 1965|}} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[Speedway World Team Cup]]}} {{MedalGold| 1960|}} {{MedalGold| 1962|}} {{MedalGold| 1963|}} {{MedalGold| 1964|}} {{MedalGold| 1967|}} {{MedalGold| 1970|}} {{MedalSilver| 1961|}} {{MedalSilver| 1965|}} {{MedalSilver| 1968|}} {{MedalBronze| 1966|}} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[Speedway World Pairs Championship]]}} {{MedalGold| 1968|}} {{MedalSilver| 1969|}} {{MedalSilver| 1970|}} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[Golden Helmet of Pardubice|Golden Helmet]]}} {{MedalGold| 1967|}} {{MedalSilver| 1968|}} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|[[Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship|Long Track World Championship]]}} {{MedalSilver| 1961|}} {{CompetitionRecordBottom}}

'''Ove Fundin''' (born 23 May 1933) is a Swedish former professional [[motorcycle speedway]] rider. He competed in the [[Speedway World Championship]]s from 1951 to 1970. Fundin is notable for winning the Speedway World Championship Final five times (1956,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000844/19560923/166/0022 |title=Fundin is champ |website=Sunday Mirror |date=23 September 1956 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref> 1960, 1961, 1963, 1967), a record bettered only by New Zealand's [[Ivan Mauger]] and fellow Swede [[Tony Rickardsson]] who each won six World Championships.<ref>{{cite book|last=Montague|first=Trevor|title=The A-Z of Sport|year=2004|page=518|publisher=Little, Brown|isbn=0-316-72645-1}}</ref> He finished runner-up in the championship 3 times (1957–59) and was third in 1962, 1964 and 1965, meaning that from his first win in 1956 until his last in 1967, Fundin did not finish lower than a podium place in a record eleven World Finals.<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}}</ref> He was known by the nickname the "Flying Fox" or just "the Fox" because of his red hair. He earned 99 caps for the [[Sweden national speedway team]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref>

== Career == Fundin was born in [[Tranås]]. It was suggested to him by [[Australian Individual Speedway Championship|Australian champion]] [[Aub Lawson]] that he ride in Britain and he joined the [[Norwich Stars]], riding for them from 1955 until 1964 when the Firs stadium closed. Then he rode for [[Long Eaton Archers|Long Eaton]] 1966,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003893/19660615/016/0016 |title= Archers may lose Fundin |website=Nottingham Evening Post |date=15 June 1966 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref> [[Belle Vue Aces|Belle Vue]] 1967,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003432/19670915/325/0019 |title=Fundin in Aces team tonight |website=Lynn Advertiser |date=15 September 1967 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref> [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley]] 1970 but will always be remembered for the glory days at Norwich Stars where he was worshiped by the home fans.

He made a total of 15 [[Speedway World Championship|World Final]] appearances, being runner-up three times and third three times as well as his five wins. He also helped Sweden win the [[Speedway World Team Cup|World Team Cup]] in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1970 as well as the [[Speedway World Pairs Championship]] in 1968. He is considered to be one of the greatest riders of all time (along with the likes of Ivan Mauger and Hans Nielsen). Fundin went through the World Team Cup (including qualifying rounds and the final in [[Gothenburg]]) undefeated in 1960, a feat not matched until [[Australia national speedway team|Australia]]'s [[Jason Crump]] went through the [[2001 Speedway World Cup]] undefeated.

Fundin won the [[Wimbledon Internationale]] for three consecutive years from 1961 to 1963.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004076/19620615/147/0011 |title=Fundin zips to victory |website=Streatham News |date=15 June 1962 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref>

Fundin also made several visits to Australia during his career with considerable success. Along with representing Sweden and various "Rest of the World" teams in Test Matches against the Australians, he won the [[South Australian Individual Speedway Championship|South Australian Championship]] four times (1966, 1967, 1969, 1970) at the [[Rowley Park Speedway]] in [[Adelaide]], and the [[Western Australian Individual Speedway Championship|Western Australian Championship]] at the [[Claremont Speedway]] in [[Perth]] in 1969.

He won a record nine [[Speedway Swedish Individual Championship|Swedish Championships]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook |year=1981 |page=85 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}}</ref>

== Awards == In 1961 Fundin and [[motocross]] competitor [[Sten Lundin]] were awarded the [[Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal]] for the most significant Swedish sports achievement of the year. It marked the first time that the award had recognised the sport of motorcycling.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://silverpilen.net/legender-2/sten-lundin/ |title=Sten "Storken" Lundin |publisher=silverpilen.net |accessdate=30 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://idrottensaffarer.se/namn/2020/03/legendaren-portratteras-igen|title=Legendaren porträtteras igen|publisher=Idrottens affärer|author=Göran Söderlund|language=sv|date=28 March 2020|access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref>

Fundin was honoured as a [[Freedom of the City|Freeman of the City]] of Norwich in 2006, only the second non-English person to be awarded this honour. The ceremony was completed at Norwich City Hall Council chamber by the Lord Mayor of Norwich on 30 October 2006.

In 2013, Fundin was named an [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] Legend for his motorcycling achievements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Distinctions/FIM-Legends.pdf |title=FIM Legends |publisher=fim-live.com |access-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-date=2 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002111452/http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Distinctions/FIM-Legends.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== After retirement == He currently lives on the [[French Riviera]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/speedway-legend-to-get-freedom-of-city-1-690073 |newspaper=Eastern Daily Press |title=Speedway legend to get freedom of city |first=Lorna |last=Marsh |quote=Speaking from his home in the French Riviera, Fundin, known around the world for his contribution to the sport in Norwich, said: "It is a great honour, really fantastic. I am deeply proud and very happy." |date=July 21, 2006 |access-date=November 24, 2017}}</ref> In 2024, he joined a charity cycling team at the end of their journey in aid of the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cumbriacrack.com/2024/09/02/dramatic-conclusion-for-heroic-speedway-fundraising-ride/ |title=Dramatic conclusion for heroic speedway fundraising ride |website=Cumbria Crack |access-date=19 September 2024 }}</ref>

== World Final appearances == === Individual World Championship === * [[1954 Individual Speedway World Championship|1954]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 16th - 2pts * [[1955 Individual Speedway World Championship|1955]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 6th - 10pts * [[1956 Individual Speedway World Championship|1956]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''Winner''' - 13pts * [[1957 Individual Speedway World Championship|1957]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''2nd''' - 14pts + 2pts * [[1958 Individual Speedway World Championship|1958]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''2nd''' - 13pts * [[1959 Individual Speedway World Championship|1959]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''2nd''' - 13pts * [[1960 Individual Speedway World Championship|1960]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''Winner''' - 14pts + 3pts * [[1961 Individual Speedway World Championship|1961]] - {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Malmö]], [[Malmö Stadion]] - '''Winner''' - 14pts * [[1962 Individual Speedway World Championship|1962]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''3rd''' - 10pts + 3pts * [[1963 Individual Speedway World Championship|1963]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''Winner''' - 14pts * [[1964 Individual Speedway World Championship|1964]] - {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Gothenburg]], [[Ullevi]] - '''3rd''' - 13pts + 2pts * [[1965 Individual Speedway World Championship|1965]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''3rd''' - 13pts + 2pts * [[1967 Individual Speedway World Championship|1967]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''Winner''' - 14pts + 3pts * [[1968 Individual Speedway World Championship|1968]] - {{Flagicon|SWE}} Gothenburg, Ullevi - 9th - 7pts * [[1969 Individual Speedway World Championship|1969]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 7th - 9pts

=== World Pairs Championship === * [[1968 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1968]]* - {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Kempten]], [[Illerstadion]] (with [[Torbjörn Harrysson]]) - '''Winner''' - 24pts (14) * [[1969 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1969]]* - {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Stockholm]], [[Gubbängens IP]] (with [[Göte Nordin]]) - '''2nd''' - 27pts (15) * [[1970 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1970]] - {{flagicon|SWE}} Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with [[Bengt Jansson]]) - '''2nd''' - 25pts (15) <small>''* Unofficial World Championships.''</small>

=== World Team Cup === * [[1960 Speedway World Team Cup|1960]] - {{Flagicon|SWE}} Gothenburg, Ullevi (with [[Olle Nygren]] / [[Rune Sörmander]] / [[Björn Knutson]]) - '''Winner''' - 44pts (12) * [[1961 Speedway World Team Cup|1961]] - {{Flagicon|POL}} [[Wrocław]], [[Olympic Stadium (Wrocław)|Olympic Stadium]] (with [[Sören Sjösten]] / Rune Sörmander / Björn Knutson / [[Per Tage Svensson]]) - '''2nd''' - 30pts (11) * [[1962 Speedway World Team Cup|1962]] - {{Flagicon|CZE}} [[Slaný]] (with Björn Knutson / Sören Sjösten / [[Göte Nordin]] / Rune Sörmander) - '''Winner''' - 36pts (9) * [[1963 Speedway World Team Cup|1963]] - {{Flagicon|AUT}} [[Vienna]], [[Ernst-Happel-Stadion|Stadion Wien]] (with Björn Knutson / [[Per Olof Söderman]] / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander) - '''Winner''' - 37pts (7) * [[1964 Speedway World Team Cup|1964]] - {{Flagicon|FRG}} [[Abensberg]], [[Abensberg Stadion]] (with Björn Knutson / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander / Sören Sjösten) - '''Winner''' - 34pts (6) * [[1965 Speedway World Team Cup|1965]] - {{Flagicon|FRG}} Kempten, Illerstadion (with Björn Knutson / [[Bengt Jansson]] / Göte Nordin) - '''2nd''' - 23pts (8) * [[1966 Speedway World Team Cup|1966]] - {{Flagicon|POL}} [[Wrocław]], [[Olympic Stadium (Wrocław)|Olympic Stadium]] (with Björn Knutson / [[Leif Enecrona]] / Göte Nordin / [[Leif Larsson (speedway rider)|Leif Larsson]]) - '''3rd''' - 22pts (2) * [[1967 Speedway World Team Cup|1967]] - {{flagicon|SWE}} Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Göte Nordin / Bengt Jansson / [[Torbjörn Harrysson]]) - '''Winner''' - 32pts (6) * [[1968 Speedway World Team Cup|1968]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium (with [[Bengt Jansson]] / [[Anders Michanek]] / [[Olle Nygren]] / Torbjörn Harrysson) - '''2nd''' - 30pts (11) * [[1969 Speedway World Team Cup|1969]] - {{Flagicon|POL}} [[Rybnik]], [[Rybnik Municipal Stadium]] (with Bengt Jansson / Sören Sjösten / Anders Michanek / Torbjörn Harrysson) - 4th - 12pts (2) * [[1970 Speedway World Team Cup|1970]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium (with Bengt Jansson / Anders Michanek / Sören Sjösten) - '''Winner''' - 42pts (11)

==World Longtrack Championship== * 1959 - Semi-final * 1961 - {{Flagicon|NOR}} [[Oslo]] ('''Second''') * 1962 - {{Flagicon|FRG}} [[Mühldorf]] (12th) * 1966 - Qualifying Round

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{succession box | title=[[Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal]] . (with [[Sten Lundin]])|before=[[Jane Cederqvist]]|after=[[Assar Rönnlund]]| years=1961}} {{s-end}}

{{Speedway World Champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fundin, Ove}} [[Category:1933 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Swedish speedway riders]] [[Category:Individual Speedway World Champions]] [[Category:Speedway World Pairs Champions]] [[Category:Belle Vue Aces riders]] [[Category:Wembley Lions riders]] [[Category:Swedish expatriate speedway riders in England]] [[Category:Norwich Stars riders]] [[Category:Long Eaton Archers riders]] [[Category:Kaparna riders]] [[Category:Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship riders]] [[Category:People from Tranås Municipality]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Jönköping County]]