Jan Egil Storholt

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameJan Egil•Storholt
Used nameJan Egil•Storholt
Born13 February 1949 in Meldal, Trøndelag (NOR)
Measurements183 cm / 79 kg
AffiliationsSportsklubben Falken, Trondheim (NOR)
NOC Norway
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Jan Egil Storholt was a promising junior skater who won the Norwegian Junior Championships in 1969. He was almost killed in a mining accident the next year, and was told he would probably not skate at a top level again. But Storholt was determined to get back, and by 1972 he had returned to the Norwegian top. When most of the top Norwegian skaters turned professional in 1973, he was suddenly one of the best amateur speed skaters in Norway. But it wasn’t until Johs Tenmann started coaching the Norwegian skaters that Storholt achieved international success.

In 1976, Storholt won Olympic gold in the 1,500 m, beating Yury Kondakov narrowly, to become the third member of his Trondheim club Falken to win that title after Hjalmar Andersen and Sverre Farstad. Known as one of the four S’es of Norwegian skating (with Kay Arne Stenshjemmet, Sten Stensen and Amund Sjøbrend), he was European champion in 1977 and 1979 and placed among the top four in seven consecutive European Championships (1975-81). He was the runner-up for the World title on three consecutive occasions, each time beaten only by redoubtable Eric Heiden. In 1977 the conditions were excellent during the country match between the Soviet Union and Norway at Medeo, and Storholt used the opportunity to set two World Records (1,500 m and all-around combination) and recorded five personal bests to climb to the top of the Adelskalender (all-time combined ranking). He was the first to top the Adelskalender with four personal records set in the same tournament.

Personal Bests: 500 – 38.07 (1977); 1000 – 1:16.77 (1978); 1500 – 1:55.18 (1977); 5000 – 7:01.16 (1977); 10000 – 14:49.26 (1978).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1976 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) NOR Jan Egil Storholt
500 metres, Men (Olympic) 28
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 9
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 14
1980 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) NOR Jan Egil Storholt
1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 17
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 6

Olympic Records

Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.
Games Date Sport Event Phase Mark Pos
1976 Winter Olympics 13 February 1976 Speed Skating (Skating) 1,500 metres, Men Final Standings 1:59.38 1
1980 Winter Olympics 21 February 1980 Speed Skating (Skating) 1,500 metres, Men Final Standings 1:57.95 6

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1980 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony NOR Jan Egil Storholt

Special Notes