Maria Akraka

Swedish middle-distance runner From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maria Akraka

Maria Helene Henriksson Akraka (born July 7, 1966) is a Swedish retired entrepreneur, television host and former athlete.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Maria Akraka
Maria Akraka representing Intersport
Personal information
Full nameMaria Helene Henriksson Akraka
Born (1966-07-07) 7 July 1966 (age 58)
London, England
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight55 kg (121 lb)
Sport
Country Sweden
SportAthletics
College teamIowa State
ClubRånäs 4H
Retired2000
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Sweden
Swedish Championships
1987800 m
19874 x 800 m
1988800 m
19884 x 800 m
1989800 m
19894 x 800 m
1990800 m
19904 x 800 m
1991800 m
19914 x 800 m
19923,000 m
1993800 m
19931,500 m
19933,000 m
1994800 m
19941,500 m
1995800 m
19951,500 m
19954 x 800 m
19984 x 800 m
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College career

Akraka competed as an athlete in both cross country and track & field for Iowa State in the United States. She finished her career a four-time All-American and a two-time Big Eight champion.[1]

In 2010 she was inducted into the Iowa State Cyclones Hall of Fame.[2]

International career

Akraka competed in four European Championships,[3] three World Championships, and the 1992 Olympic Games in both the 1,500 m and 800 m races.[4]

Post-athletics career

Akraka worked previously as a host of betting company ATG's channel, Channel 75, where she interviewed Horse racing jockeys. She also worked for TV4 covering horse racing. In 2006, she started working for SVT, hosting extreme sports game show Megadrom[5][6] and also covered various sports competitions such as the Olympics and DN Galan.[7]

In 2009, she and her husband bought an estate with an equestrian training stable in 2009. She now spends much of her time training race horses.[8]

Currently she serves as an advisory for sporting goods retailer, Intersport[9] and the founder/CEO of Sportcore, a career agency for former professional athletes.

Personal bests

More information Surface, Event ...
Surface Event Time Date Place
Outdoor 400 m54:5020 August 1988Malmö, Sweden
800 m2:00:588 August 1991Lahti, Finland
1,000 m2:38:3025 July 1995Monaco
1,500 m4:08:6319 August 1994Brussels, Belgium
1 mile4:32:0410 September 1993London, England
2,000 m5:47:764 September 1994Sheffield, England
3,000 m9:04:3528 August 1994Stockholm, Sweden
Indoor 800 m2:00:01NR19 February 1998Stockholm, Sweden
1,500 m4:07:7418 February 1992Genoa, Italy
Road 1 mile4:29.0h1 February 1998Santee, CA, USA
Reference:
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Personal life

Akraka is married to former triple jumper Tord Henriksson and they have two children.[10]

Akraka was born in London to a Swedish mother and a Nigerian father.[11] The family moved to Sweden but her parents separated and her father moved back to Nigeria. She was raised by her mother in Rågsved outside Stockholm. Her father Smart Akraka is a former track and field athlete who competed in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.[12] She has a twin brother, Michael.[1]

References

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