Ådne Søndrål

Primarily a mid-distance specialist, Ådne Søndrål was at his best at the World Single-Distance Championships, where he won 10 medals and four gold medals between 1996 and 2001. He won gold medals in the 1,000 in 1997 and 2000 and in the 1,500 in 1998 and 2001, and won six silver medals as follows: the 1,000 m in 1996 and 2001 and in the 1,500 m in 1996-97 and 1999-2000. He added a full set of Olympic medals in the 1,500 metres – winning gold in 1998, silver in 1992, and bronze in 2002. In 2002 he was the favorite for the 1,500 but injuries to both shoulders shortly before Salt Lake City hampered him and he felt fortunate to win bronze.

Søndrål was second at the World Juniors in allround in 1990, with a best finish at the World Championships in allround of sixth in 1999, but he rarely skated that because of his difficulties with the longer distances. Søndrål had an Adelskalender score of 153.515 pts, with his highest ranking a 12th place.

Søndrål set one world junior record and two world records in the 1,500 metres, winning his Olympic gold medal in a world record 1:47.87, and then bettering that a month later in Calgary in 1:46.43. During his career he had 30 World Cup wins, with 11 at 1,000 m and 18 at 1,500 m, and won four seasonal World Cup titles – the 1,000 in 1996 and the 1500 in 1999, 2000, and 2002.

Søndrål was given the Oscar Mathisen Award in 1998. In 2002 he was selected as an athlete’s member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), serving in that role until 2006.

Personal Bests: 500 – 35.72 (2000); 1000 – 1:08.15 (2002); 1500 – 1:45.26 (2002); 5000 – 6:40.53 (1999); 10000 – 14:13.12 (1999).