Harald Strøm

Harald Strøm (October 14, 1897 – December 25 1977) was a Norwegian speed skater, world champion, European champion and world record holder on 5000m. He was also a football player, national champion with his club, and playing for the national football team.

International championships

Strøm won a gold medal at the 1922 World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Men, winning both the 5000m and 10000m, and he received a silver medal in 1923. [http://www.isu.org/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,11040,4844-171961-189179-100271-0-file,00.pdf Medal Winners in World Allround Championships] – "International Skating Union" (Retrieved on April 9, 2008)]

He received a gold medal at the 1923 European Allround Championships, where he also won the 5000m distance.

He was flag bearer for Norway at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix. He finished 5th on the three longest distances, and 4th allround.

World records

He set his first speed skating world record on 5000m in 1921 (8:27.7), being the first to break the magic 8:30. He improved his own record in 1922 (8:26.5). His record lasted for seven years, until Ivar Ballangrud overtook the record with 8:24.2 in 1929. [http://www.isu.org/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,11040,4844-181536-198754-94643-0-file,00.pdf Historical World Records] – "International Skating Union" (Retrieved on April 9, 2008)]

Football

Strøm played for the football club "Ørn", and became two times Norwegian champion, in 1920 and in 1927. He played sixteen matches for the Norwegian national team.

Awards

Harald Strøm was awarded Egebergs Ærespris in 1921.

References