Finnbjörn Þorvaldsson

Iceland’s Finnbjörn Þorvaldsson found success at the national level in three different sports during his outstanding athletic career. A lifelong member of Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur, he won his first major accolade in 1946 as a member of the handball team that captured that year’s national championships. In 1954 he accomplished a similar feat as a basketball player, taking home another Icelandic title. His most important international appearance, however, came in-between these two events, when he was selected to represent Iceland in track and field at the 1948 Summer Olympics. At the Games, he was eliminated in round one of both the 100 metres event and, alongside Ásmundur Bjarnason, Trausti Eyjólfsson, and Haukur Clausen, the 4x100 metres relay. He also competed in the long jump, where he was eliminated in the qualifying round after placing 14th.

Finnbjörn finished sixth in the 100 metres and reached the semifinals of the 200 metres at the 1946 European Championships and competed again in the 100 metres at the 1950 edition. He was Nordic Champion in the 100 and 200 metres events in 1949 and was also active as a gymnast during this period. By career, he worked in the airline industry, first for Icelandic Airlines, and then for Flugleiða, for several decades prior to his retirement.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.5 (1949); LJ – 7.16 (1948).