Quick Facts
Biography
Sonja Viola Edström-Ruthström (Edström before 1960, born 18 November 1930) is a retired Swedish cross country skier. She competed at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics in the 10 km and 3×5 km relay events and won bronze medals in both in 1956; in 1960 she finished fifth in the 10 km, but won the 3×5 km relay.
Edstrõm also won two 3×5 km bronze medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1954 and 1958. She won the 10 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 1956. In 1953–1960, she collected 12 individual and 3 relay national titles.
Edström was born in a family of six siblings, and was mostly raised by her father, as her mother fell seriously ill when Edström was six years old. At 14 she started working as a maid, and at 16 as a bottles cleaner at the Luleå Brewery. She was later a nurse at a Luleå hospital for more than 30 years.