Roar Grønvold

Roar Grønvold became Norwegian junior champion in 1963, but didn’t breakthrough with the seniors until 1968, when he rather anonymously placed 13th in the Olympic 500 m. After being runner-up at the Norwegian Championships twice in a row, Grønvold had his major breakthrough in 1972. Had it not been for Ard Schenk he would have been the best skater of the year. He finished second in every major championship, always behind Schenk: 2nd at the European Championships, 2nd at the World Championships and 2nd at the Olympic 1,500 and 5,000 metres.

Grønvold was victorious at the 1972 Norwegian Championships. The next season, he joined Schenk in the newly founded pro speed skating league, where he achieved two second places and a third in the championships before the league folded and Grønvold’s career ended. He then turned to coaching, among others leading Norway’s junior squad for two periods. He also worked as a football trainer for several clubs in Norway’s lower leagues. Roar Grønvold later worked as a physiotherapist.

Personal Bests: 500 – 39.3 (1972); 1000 – 1:21.32 (1972); 1500 – 2:01.45 (1972); 5000 – 7:22.55 (1972); 10000 – 15:19.98 (1972).