Clarence Servold

Clarence Servold took up skiing in the early 1940s, after trying his hand in a variety of sports, including baseball, golf, and ice hockey. He enjoyed ski jumping, becoming the junior Canadian national champion in Nordic Combined in 1948, but was more successful in other disciplines. In 1955 he won senior titles at the Canadian National Championships in the 15 and 30 km cross-country events, as well as the Nordic Combined. This led to him being selected to represented his country at the 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics, where he placed 19th, 37th, and 22nd in the 15, 30, and 50 km cross-country skiing events respectively. He had similar luck at the 1960 Squaw Valley Games, coming in 35th and 36th in the 15 and 30 km competitions respectively, and 28th in the Nordic Combined.

Servold declined an opportunity to compete at the 1964 edition, due to career commitments, but continued to ski at the senior level for many years. He earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Denver, where he was a member of the ski team and became the 1958 and 1959 National Collegiate Athletic Association cross-country skiing champion. He was involved in sports administration, coaching, and training, which led to his induction in several halls of fame, in addition to granting him the opportunity to light an Olympic flame for the 1988 Calgary Olympics.