Max Gumpel

Who was Max Gumpel?

Max Leonard Gumpel was a famous Swedish building contractor.

Gumpel was one of the founders and early sponsors of the Stockholm swim club SK Neptun. He participated in the 1912 Summer Olympics and in the 1920 Summer Olympics. He was part of the Swedish team in water polo and won a silver and a bronze medal. In the 1908 Olympics he competed in the 200 metre breaststroke event. Gumpel was also a member of the board of Svenska simförbundet between 1919-1931.

Gumpel had a short relationship with Greta Garbo before she moved to Hollywood. They kept contact as friends for the rest of their lives. She was a frequent guest to Gumpel when visiting Sweden.

Max Gumpel was involved in counter-espionage affair under World War II together with his friend Eric Erickson. With his help the allied powers got exact positions of Germanys petroleum refineries which thereby were bombed. A book was written about this and a hollywoodfilm, The Counterfeit Traitor was made with William Holden as Eric Erickson and Ulf Palme as Max Gumpel.

Gumpel had a large interest in boats and cars. He owned the motorboat Laila and a Skerry Cruiser - La Liberté 1934 designed by Erik Salander - both built at Kungsörs Båtvarv AB in Sweden.