Pétur Rögnvaldsson
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games • Other |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Pétur (-Peter)•Rögnvaldsson (-Ronson) |
| Used name | Pétur•Rögnvaldsson |
| Born | 22 April 1934 in Siglufjörður, Norðurland eystra (ISL) |
| Died | 16 January 2007 in Orange County, California (USA) |
| Measurements | 190 cm / 73 kg |
| Affiliations | KR, Reykjavík (ISL) |
| NOC |  Iceland |
Biography
Petur Rögnvaldsson grew up in Iceland where he excelled in track, competing in the hurdles and the decathlon. He attended Southern Cal on a track scholarship. While there, he was spotted by movie producers who were looking for a large, Nordic-looking type for the role of Hans in Journey to the Center of the Earth. One of his track teammates was the son of the producer and Rögnvaldsson was enlisted to play the role and lend some technical expertise to the film. It was his only movie. After the Roma Olympics he settled in California and Americanized his name to Peter Ronson.
Personal Best: 110H – 14.4y (1962).
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 Summer Olympics | Athletics | ISL |
Pétur Rögnvaldsson | |||
| 110 metres Hurdles, Men (Olympic) | 6 h4 r1/4 |
Other participations
| Games | Role | NOC | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 Summer Olympics | Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony | ISL |
Pétur Rögnvaldsson |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Acted in Movies (Notably as Hans in Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959).)