Thomas Ulsrud

Thomas Ulsrud was a Norwegian curler who won medals at the European Championships, World Championships, and Olympic Games. He also won 14 Norwegian titles. Ulsrud attracted world-wide attention when he wore colourful harlequin trousers at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Ulsrud began competing in curling in 1983. Five years later, Ulsrud skipped the Norwegian team to the bronze medal at the World Junior Curling Championships. From 1997 to 2019 Ulsrud competed at 17 editions of the European Championships, winning gold in 2010 and 2011. Ulsrud’s European medal haul also consisted of six slivers and three bronzes. Ulsrud competed in 12 editions of the World Championships from 1998 to 2016. In 2014 Ulsrud won gold in Beijing. He also won three bronze medals and a silver.

Ulsrud competed at three editions of the Winter Olympics with his most successful being the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The Norwegian team, skipped by Ulsrud, had become famous for wearing harlequin design trousers during the tournament. Norway won the silver medal, after losing to hosts Canada in the final. Ulsrud competed at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, where Norway finished fifth and six, respectively.

Ulsrud was diagnosed with cancer in December 2020. After a lengthy battle Ulsrud died in May 2022. He was 50.