Hjalle Johannesen

Norwegian track sprinter Hjalle Johannesen specialised in the 400 and 800 metres, winning eleven national titles across the two events. Johannesen won his first medal at the national championships with silver in the 800 metres in 1927, followed by doing the double in the 400 and 800 metres in 1928 and 1929. He continued to have success in both distances throughout the 1930s, winning three more titles in the 400 metres (1930–31, 1935) and four 800 metres titles (1931, 1933, 1936–37).

Johannesen was selected to run in the 400 metres at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics but did not start the race. Four years later he did run in both the 400 and 800 metres at the 1932 Los Angeles Games, reaching the quarter-finals in the 400 metres. His best Olympic performance came at the 1936 Berlin Games where he just missed out on the final of the 800 metres in a tight semi-final race. Following his retirement from running Johannesen worked as the sports editor of the newspaper Morgenposten until his death in 1959.

Personal Bests: 400 – 48.6 (1935); 800 – 1:52.1 (1935).