Aron Anderson
{{Short description|Swedish adventurer, motivational speaker and athlete}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Aron Anderson
| image=Aronanderson profilbild.jpg
| caption = Anderson in 2014
| birthname = Aron Karl Riggert Anderson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|1|26}}{{cn|date=January 2024}}
| birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden
| death_date =
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| education =
| occupation = Athlete, motivational speaker, adventurer
| alias =
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| family =
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| children =
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Aron Karl Riggert Anderson (born 26 January 1988) is a Swedish adventurer, motivational speaker and a paralympian-athlete. Anderson was the first wheelchair user to summit Sweden's highest mountain, Kebnekaise, and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Biography
In January 1996, Anderson and his parents were told by doctors he had cancer in his lower back.{{cite web|url=https://www.mobihealthnews.com/content/patients-acting-consumers-demanding-more-ease-better-tools|title=Patients acting as consumers, demanding more ease, better tools|date=25 April 2019|website=MobiHealthNews|accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426032205/https://www.mobihealthnews.com/content/patients-acting-consumers-demanding-more-ease-better-tools|archive-date=26 April 2019|url-status=live}} He was treated with chemotherapy and radiation throughout 1996 and early 1997.{{cite web|url=https://www.lokalnytt.se/artiklar/141/aron-andersson-tar-rullstolen-med-sig-till-toppen|title=Aron Andersson tar rullstolen med sig till toppen|website=Lokalnytt|accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420001054/https://www.lokalnytt.se/artiklar/141/aron-andersson-tar-rullstolen-med-sig-till-toppen|url-status=live}} The treatments did not work, and in late 1997 the cancer was removed surgically, at which time Anderson lost function in both legs.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/how-paralyzed-adventurer-aron-anderson-climbs-mountains-w512708/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225013609/https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/how-paralyzed-adventurer-aron-anderson-climbs-mountains-w512708/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 December 2017 |title=How Paralyzed Adventurer Aron Anderson Climbs Mountains |last=McCoy |first=Jenny |date=27 November 2017 |publisher=mensjournal.com |access-date=28 April 2019}}
He competes as a celebrity dancer in Let's Dance 2022, which is broadcast by TV4.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gp.se/1.66783811|title=Här är alla deltagarna i årets "Let's dance"|first=Johan|last=Lindqvist|date=27 February 2022|website=Göteborgs-Posten|accessdate=27 March 2022|archive-date=13 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813090849/https://www.gp.se/kultur/kultur/let-s-dance-2022-h%C3%A4r-%C3%A4r-alla-deltagarna-som-dansar-i-tv4-1.66783811|url-status=live}} He is also the first dancer to use a wheelchair on the show.{{Cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/a/a7owXM/aron-anderson-hyllad-for-insats-i-let-s-dance|title=Aron Anderson hyllad för insats i "Let's Dance"|date=19 March 2022|accessdate=27 March 2022|work=Svenska Dagbladet|archive-date=1 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401022913/https://www.svd.se/a/a7owXM/aron-anderson-hyllad-for-insats-i-let-s-dance|url-status=live}}
=Athletics=
File:Aron Anderson Vasaloppet 2015 (cropped).jpg
Aron Anderson became a para-athlete in three different sports, sailing, athletics and sledge-hockey and has participated in four Paralympic Games.{{cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/aron-tillhor-varldseliten-i-tre-idrotter|title=Aron tillhör världseliten – i tre idrotter|first=Anders|last=Lindblad|newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |date=24 April 2004|publisher=SvenskaDagbladet|accessdate=28 April 2019|via=www.svd.se|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322111518/http://www.svd.se/aron-tillhor-varldseliten-i-tre-idrotter|archive-date=22 March 2016|url-status=live}} Between 1999 and 2005, he competed in sailing, he stopped competing after the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece.{{cite web|url=http://www.gp.se/1.24931|title=Från Paralympics till Lilla Sportspegeln|last=TT|website=Göteborgsposten|date=9 February 2016 |accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420001040/https://www.gp.se/sport/fr%C3%A5n-paralympics-till-lilla-sportspegeln-1.24931|url-status=live}} He instead started fully competing in athletics and sledge-hockey.
In 2012, he was forced to stop competing in athletics as he had to undergo a hip operation which made it impossible for him to compete at elite level.{{cite web|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/927236?programid=2071|title=Aron Anderson – Sommar & Vinter i P1|first=Sveriges|last=Radio|website=Sveriges Radio|date=August 2017 |accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503231949/https://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/927236%3Fprogramid%3D2071|archive-date=3 May 2019|url-status=live}} He also stopped playing sledge-hockey after the World Championships in 2013, to set his mind on only adventures and lecturing.{{cite web|url=http://www.shif.se/Nyheter/Nyheterfranforbundet/Ostersundarrangerarkalkhockey-VM/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526172607/http://www.shif.se/Nyheter/Nyheterfranforbundet/Ostersundarrangerarkalkhockey-VM/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 May 2015|title=Östersund arrangerar kälkhockey-VM – Svenska Handikappidrottsforbundet|date=26 May 2015|website=Svenska Handikappidrottsförbundet|accessdate=28 April 2019}}
=Adventuring=
On 1 August 2013, he was the first wheelchair user to climb to the top of Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest mountain, using crutches and "crawling" with his arms. He is also the first person in a wheelchair to have climbed to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. The expedition was led by adventurer Johan Ernst Nilson.{{cite web|url=https://nyheter24.se/nyheter/inrikes/772143-aron-bestiger-europas-hogsta-berg-i-rullstol|title=Aron bestiger Europas högsta berg – i rullstol|date=3 July 2014|website=Nyheter24|accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520034602/https://nyheter24.se/nyheter/inrikes/772143-aron-bestiger-europas-hogsta-berg-i-rullstol|archive-date=20 May 2019|url-status=live}} He reached the peak at 15.00 (CET) on 1 August 2013.{{cite web|url=https://nyheter24.se/nyheter/923554-har-ar-fem-saker-du-vill-veta-om-idrottaren-aron-anderson|title=Här är fem saker du vill veta om idrottaren Aron Anderson|date=5 March 2019|website=Nyheter24|accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306133618/https://nyheter24.se/nyheter/923554-har-ar-fem-saker-du-vill-veta-om-idrottaren-aron-anderson|archive-date=6 March 2019|url-status=live}} In 2014, he decided to complete a Swedish Classic, in which he competed in and finished the long-distance endurance events of Vasaloppet, Vätternrundan, Vansbrosimmet and the Lidingöloppet during one year, this also as the first wheelchair user.{{cite web|url=https://runnersworld.se/grattis-aron-andersson/|title=Klassikern under 24 timmar – i rullstol|date=29 September 2014|website=Runner's World|accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506214759/https://runnersworld.se/grattis-aron-andersson/|archive-date=6 May 2019|url-status=live}} On 7 August 2015, he swam in 14 degree water for 37 kilometers over the sea of Åland between Grissleham to Åland, a swim that took him 13 hours to complete.{{cite web|url=https://www.ica.se/halsa/artikel/aron-anderson-simmade-till-aland/|title=Aron Anderson simmade till Åland – ICA Hälsa|website=ICA.se|accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802204144/https://www.ica.se/halsa/artikel/aron-anderson-simmade-till-aland/|archive-date=2 August 2017|url-status=live}} In 2019, Anderson competed in the competition show Vinnarskallar which was broadcast on TV4, where he competed against other Swedish para-athletes.{{cite web|url=https://www.tv4.se/vinnarskallar/klipp/aron-anderson-om-cancern-och-att-aldrig-ge-upp-11977772|title=Aron Anderson om cancern och att aldrig ge upp – Vinnarskallar – tv4.se|website=tv4.se|accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402160424/https://www.tv4.se/vinnarskallar/klipp/aron-anderson-om-cancern-och-att-aldrig-ge-upp-11977772|archive-date=2 April 2019|url-status=live}} He won the show.[https://www.tv4.se/vinnarskallar/klipp/här-koras-vinnaren-av-vinnarskallar-2019-11982853 Här koras vinnaren av Vinnarskallar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609092211/https://www.tv4.se/vinnarskallar/klipp/h%C3%A4r-koras-vinnaren-av-vinnarskallar-2019-11982853 |date=2019-06-09 }} Retrieved 9 June 2019 He has also skied through Antarctica, a monthlong journey and the first person in a wheelchair to do it.{{cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6594243|title=Aron Anderson the first person to reach the South Pole in a wheelchair – Radio Sweden|first=Sveriges|last=Radio|website=Sveriges Radio|date=22 December 2016 |accessdate=14 June 2019|archive-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223180500/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6594243|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/travel/wheelchair-racer-aron-anderson-travel.html|title=Wheelchair Racer Aron Anderson Has Another Mountain to Climb|first=Elaine|last=Glusac|date=25 September 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=28 April 2019|via=NYTimes.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331161946/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/travel/wheelchair-racer-aron-anderson-travel.html|archive-date=31 March 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/22/swedish-man-claims-first-reach-south-pole-wheelchair-400-mile/|title=Swedish man claims to be first to reach South Pole in a wheelchair after 300km trek|first=Our Foreign|last=Staff|date=22 December 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=28 April 2019|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514112101/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/22/swedish-man-claims-first-reach-south-pole-wheelchair-400-mile/|archive-date=14 May 2017|url-status=live}} In December 2018, Anderson joined with singer Peg Parnevik to be ambassadors for Musikhjälpen which was broadcast on SVT and on radio for Sveriges Radio.{{cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3946&artikel=7093105|title=Peg Parnevik och Aron Anderson är årets ambassadörer – Musikhjälpen|first=Sveriges|last=Radio|newspaper=Sveriges Radio|date=26 November 2018 |accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403080017/https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3946&artikel=7093105|archive-date=3 April 2019|url-status=live}}
Anderson works as a motivational speaker.{{cite web |title=Strategic Tech Coaching: EP – 32 Aron Anderson adventurer, speaker and entrepreneur |url=https://strategictechcoaching.com/ep-32-aron-anderson-an-adventurer-speaker-and-a-special-dude/ |accessdate=14 June 2019 |website=strategictechcoaching.libsyn.com}}[https://www.laraforlivet.se/föreläsare-aron-anderson Föreläsare Aron Anderson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420001044/https://www.laraforlivet.se/f%C3%B6rel%C3%A4sare-aron-anderson |date=2021-04-20}} laraforlivet.se Retrieved 9 June 2019 He is also an ambassador for Barncancerfonden, a children's cancer foundation, and has through his adventures also helped to raise money for the cause.{{cite web|url=https://www.barncancerfonden.se/press/facebook-klick-hjalpte-aron-att-dra-in-246-000-kronor-till-barncancerfonden/|title=Facebook-klick hjälpte Aron att dra in 246 000 kronor till Barncancerfonden|website=Barncancerfonden|accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420001037/https://www.barncancerfonden.se/press/facebook-klick-hjalpte-aron-att-dra-in-246-000-kronor-till-barncancerfonden/|url-status=live}} In 2017, Anderson presented an episode of the radio show Sommar i P1, speaking about his struggles and successes in life.{{cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6717336|title=This year's Sommar radio hosts announced – Radio Sweden|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|website=Sveriges Radio|date=14 June 2017 |accessdate=14 June 2019|archive-date=21 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021142606/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6717336|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/927236?programid=2071|title=Aron Anderson – Sommar & Vinter i P1|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|website=Sveriges Radio|date=August 2017 |accessdate=14 June 2019|archive-date=3 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503231949/https://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/927236%3Fprogramid%3D2071|url-status=live}}
References
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External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.aronanderson.se Official website]
- [http://www.barncancerfonden.se Barncancerfonden]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Aron}}
Category:Sportspeople from Stockholm
Category:Swedish wheelchair racers
Category:Paralympic athletes for Sweden