Birger Brodtkorb

Birger Brodtkorb was born in Tjøtta in Norway, the son of a wealthy proprietor who owned a big manor with 20 tenant farms and 230 farms in the surrounding areas. Brodtkorb went to Kristiania (Oslo) to study in 1911, and become a member of Kristiania Idrætsforening, specializing in standing jumps with immediate success.

In the Olympic trials in June 1912, he won both standing jumps with new personal bests, 1.435 and 3.10. In Stockholm he did not qualify for the final in standing high jump, and placed 12th place in standing long jump. He ended his short athletic carreer by becoming Norwegian champion in standing long jump in September 1912, definitively the shortest career for a Norwegian athletics Olympian.

After finishing his studies, Brodtkorb married and moved to Notodden to work for Norsk Hydro. While in Notodden, the family’s two children – both daughters – were born in 1919 and 1920. Later he worked as an office manager for Collett & Co in Oslo, a firm producing nutricion products. During a summer vacation in Follebu, Gausdal, he died suddenly, aged 44. He is buried on the family graveyard in Tjøtta.

Personal Best: StHJ – 1.43.5(1912); StLJ – 3.10 (1912).