Kjellfred Weum

Kjellfred Weum grew up on a farm in Indre Hafslo in the municipality of Luster in the western part of Norway. In 1958 he moved to Drammen to start working in a shipyard, and his talent for athletics was discovered by the former Norwegian pole vault champion Andreas Larsen Nyhus, who became his coach at the club IF Hellas. Weum specialized in the 110 metre hurdles, and won his first national championship in 1963, followed by seven more consecutively, until he finished his athletic career after the 1970 season. Weum competed in 45 international matches, and in around half of them he was the team captain. In 1964 he equaled the Norwegian record of 14.2, a record he bettered on several occasions, ending with a PB of 13.7 in 1967. At the 1968 Olympic Games Weum reached the semi finals, setting the first ever national record with automatic timing of 14.04. In 1965 he set the European indoor record in the 60 m hurdles with 8.8. He also placed seventh at the 1969 European Championships in Athina.

In 1964 Weum began studying at the Police High School in Oslo, and from 1966 was a member of IL i BUL in the Norwegian capital. After working as a policeman in Bærum outside Oslo for four years, he returned to his home municipality where he worked with the local police force until his retirement. Weum was also active in local politics, serving as vice-mayor in the municipality for several years. After his retirement he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, and died in a local care center at age 77.

Personal Best: 110H – 13.7 (1967).