Photos of Swedish High Jumper Gunhild Larking at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne

Sultry beauty Gunhild Larking, 20, Sweden’s entry for the high jump, nervously waiting for her turn to compete at the Olympic Games. She got no medal in the high lump at Melbourne but LIFE photographer George Silk, bless him, happily voted her two full rolls of his film.

Photos of Swedish High Jumper Gunhild Larking at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne

Photos of Swedish High Jumper Gunhild Larking at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne

Photos of Swedish High Jumper Gunhild Larking at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne

Photos of Swedish High Jumper Gunhild Larking at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne

Larking competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics, 1954 European Athletics Championships and 1956 Summer Olympics and placed ninth in 1952 and fourth in 1954 and 1956. She won five consecutive national titles from 1952 to 1956.

Photos of Swedish High Jumper Gunhild Larking at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne

Photos of Swedish High Jumper Gunhild Larking at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne

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