Ossi Blomqvist

During the 1920s and 1930s Finnish speed skater Ossi Blomqvist won medals at the national championships and the European championships, and competed at three Olympic Games. Blomqvist made his Olympic début at the 1928 St. Moritz Games, finishing tenth in the 5,000 metres. He also skated in the infamous 10,000 metres race at the 1928 Games that saw the ice thaw due to unseasonably high temperatures, with the results being annulled. Before his next Olympic appearance Blomqvist won silver in the all-round competition at the European Speed Skating Championships in 1931 and 1932. At the 1932 Lake Placid Olympics he had the honour of being the flagbearer for Finland at the Opening Ceremony. His performances on the ice, however, were disappointing, with him failing to advance from the heats in all three of the races he started in.

Four years later Blomqvist skated at his third and final Olympics, taking to the ice for four races at the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Games. His results were vastly superior to those from the 1932 Games, with him finishing in the top-ten in three of the four races, including fifth in the 10,000 metres. After World War II Blomqvist returned to the Olympics, this time serving as a referee in the speed skating events at the 1948 St. Mortiz Games.

Personal Bests: 500 – 45.0 (1931); 1500 – 2:22.8 (1932); 5000 – 8:36.6 (1936); 10000 – 17:42.4 (1936).