Magnús Tómasson Kjaran

Magnús Tómasson Kjaran was a versatile sportsman and was one of the Icelandic glíma wrestlers competing in the exhibition event of this sport at the 1912 Olympic Games. In June 1911, he took part in the first Icelandic national sports meet. There, he won the title in the third weight class and came second in the 880 yards run. In athletics he also set national records in the 1,500 metres (4:52.8) and the javelin throw (33.62 m) to win the respective titles at the 1913 national championships. With the javelin, he was the first athlete in Iceland to use the backward movement of the javelin in the run having observed this innovation at the Olympic Games the previous year. In 1913, he was also joint champion in the pole vault and second in the 800 metres.

Born as the son of a farmer in southwestern Iceland, Kjaran moved to Reykjavik with his family in 1898, where he attended the Icelandic School of Commerce. He joined the Th. Thorsteinsson company for a four-year commercial apprenticeship. After completing his training, he became a manager at Thorsteinsson’s Liverpool store to make it the country’s largest colonial goods store. In 1918, Kjaran became a partner and after Thorsteinsson’s death in 1925, he became the sole owner.

Kjaran sold the store in 1930 and started a wholesale business, later together with his son Birgir. In addition, Magnús held various other posts including member of the City Council, chairman of the trade council, board member of various business associations and the Icelandic Red Cross and various others. He was chairman of Bókfell publishing house and was Swedish vice-consul in Reykjavik. Kjaran was also an important promoter of the Alþingi Festival and one of the founders of the Lions Clubs in Iceland. He was awarded with numerous decorations including the Grand Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon and the Swedish Order of Vasa.

Magnús married Soffía Franzdóttir Siemsen in 1915. Birgir, the eldest of their four children (two sons and two daughters), later became president of the Icelandic Central Bank and National Olympic Committee of Iceland.