Randi Thorvaldsen
Encyclopedia
Randi Thorvaldsen (4 March 1925 – 10 February 2011) was a former Norwegian speedskater
, silver medalist from the allround World Championship, and a previous World Record holder in 1,500 metres. She was the dominating female speedskater in Norway from the end of the Second World War to 1954. She was born in Fiskum
, Øvre Eiker
, and represented the club IF Liv, Hønefoss
.
in 1951 in Eskilstuna
, behind Eevi Huttunen
. At the 1951 championship she won the 500 m distance with the time 49.4, placed second at 1,000 m (1:42.6), second on 3,000 m (5:56.0) and second on 5,000 m (9:54.8), resulting in the samalog
(total score) 219.513. At the World Championships in 1952 in Kokkola
she won the bronze medal, after placing second on 500 m and 1,500 m, fifth on 3,000 m and sixth on 5,000 m. At the 1953 World Championships she finished sixth, and again sixth in 1954.
in Gjøvik
in 1950, when she improved Laila Schou Nilsen
's previous record from 1937. Her new record, 2:37.5, lasted less than one month, when it was beaten by Rimma Zhukova
.
Long track speed skating
Speed skating is an Olympic sport where competitors are timed while crossing a set distance. It is also a sport for leisure. Sports such as short track speedskating, inline speedskating, and quad speed skating are also called speed skating...
, silver medalist from the allround World Championship, and a previous World Record holder in 1,500 metres. She was the dominating female speedskater in Norway from the end of the Second World War to 1954. She was born in Fiskum
Fiskum
Fiskum is a parish in the municipality Øvre Eiker in Buskerud, Norway. In the 1600s the Fiskum Manor was a noble-man's estate.Of the two churches in Fiskum parish, the oldest was built in the 13th century. A new church built north of the medieval church Fiskum gamle kirke in the village of Darbu, ...
, Øvre Eiker
Øvre Eiker
Øvre Eiker is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Eiker. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hokksund. The old municipality of Eiker was divided into Øvre Eiker and Nedre Eiker on 1 July 1885.-Name:The Old Norse form of...
, and represented the club IF Liv, Hønefoss
Hønefoss
Hønefoss is a city in Buskerud county, Norway, and the center of the municipality of Ringerike.In 1852, Hønefoss received town status and was separated from Norderhov. Hønefoss celebrated its 150th year of township in 2002...
.
National merits
Thorvaldsen won the first national all-round speed skating championship held in Norway after World War II, in 1946. She became Norwegian all-round champion nine years in a row, every year from 1946 to 1954. In these championships she won 34 distances, out of 36 possible. She set ten national records during her career. Her national record on 5,000 m from 1953, 9:35.6, was unbeaten for 29 years, until 1982.World championships
Thorvaldsen participated in eight World Championships. She placed fourth in 1948, and again fourth in 1949, and ninth in 1950. She won a silver medal at the World Allround Speed Skating Championships for WomenWorld Allround Speed Skating Championships for Women
The International Skating Union has organised the World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Women since 1936. Unofficial Championships were held in the years 1933-1935.-Distances used:...
in 1951 in Eskilstuna
Eskilstuna
Eskilstuna is a city and the seat of Eskilstuna Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 60,185 inhabitants in 2005. Eskilstuna has a large Sweden Finn population....
, behind Eevi Huttunen
Eevi Huttunen
Eevi Huttunen, married Pirinen, is a former speed skater from Finland.Being for a decade almost the only female skater able to compete against the Soviet ladies on the longer distances, Eevi Huutunen made a comeback specially for the 1960 Winter Olympics , where she managed to win the...
. At the 1951 championship she won the 500 m distance with the time 49.4, placed second at 1,000 m (1:42.6), second on 3,000 m (5:56.0) and second on 5,000 m (9:54.8), resulting in the samalog
Samalog
Samalog is a scoring system in speed skating. It is used in allround tournaments to convert results at various distances into points in order to determine an overall champion...
(total score) 219.513. At the World Championships in 1952 in Kokkola
Kokkola
Kokkola is a town and municipality of Finland.The town is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
she won the bronze medal, after placing second on 500 m and 1,500 m, fifth on 3,000 m and sixth on 5,000 m. At the 1953 World Championships she finished sixth, and again sixth in 1954.
Records
Thorvaldsen set a world record in women's 1500 mWorld record progression 1,500 m speed skating women
The World record progression 1,500 m speed skating women as recognised by the International Skating Union:-See also:* List of speed skating records* World record progression 500 m speed skating men* World record progression 1,000 m speed skating men...
in Gjøvik
Gjøvik
is a town and a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Gjøvik.In 1861, the village of Gjøvik in the municipality of Vardal was granted town status and was separated from Vardal to form a separate municipality...
in 1950, when she improved Laila Schou Nilsen
Laila Schou Nilsen
Laila Schou Nilsen was a Norwegian speed skater, alpine skier and tennis player. She was one of the pioneers in Norwegian as well as international speed skating for women.-Biography:...
's previous record from 1937. Her new record, 2:37.5, lasted less than one month, when it was beaten by Rimma Zhukova
Rimma Zhukova
Rimma Mikhaylovna Zhukova was a speed skater. She was born in Sverdlovsk, Russia.Rimma Zhukova competed for the Soviet Union and after having become Soviet Allround Champion three times and having won the prestigious Kirov prize four times, she became World Allround Champion in 1955. Zhukova was...
.
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