Oskar Olsen

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Referee
SexMale
Full nameOskar Victor•Olsen
Used nameOskar•Olsen
Born17 October 1897 in Oslo, Oslo (NOR)
Died28 December 1956 in Oslo, Oslo (NOR)
AffiliationsOslo SK, Oslo (NOR)
NOC Norway
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

The son of Swedish immigrants, Oskar Olsen became Norway’s first medallist at the Winter Olympics by winning the silver medal in the 500 m behind Charley Jewtraw. Primarily known as a sprinter - he regularly placed among the top three in that event in international tournaments - Olsen occasionally did well in the longer distances too. This earned him a bronze medal at the 1924 and 1925 European Championships. His best placing in the World Championships was 7th, in 1923. At the 1923 Norwegian nationals, he came in third, while winning his the 500 m in 1926. Olsen retired after the 1928 season, to become a sportswriter for Sportsmanden. He later also became president of the Norwegian Skating Federation (NSF), first briefly in 1931, and again from 1949 until 1952. Oskar’s brother, Henning, was also a speed skater, who placed third in the 1911 World Championships and won the Norwegian title that same year.

Personal Bests: 500 – 44.0 (1925); 1500 – 2:27.0 (1924); 5000 – 8:54.9 (1924); 10000 – 18:12.7 (1924).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1924 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) NOR Oskar Olsen
500 metres, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 6
1928 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) NOR Oskar Olsen
500 metres, Men (Olympic) 9

Olympic Records

Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.
Games Date Sport Event Phase Mark Pos
1924 Winter Olympics 26 January 1924 Speed Skating (Skating) 500 metres, Men Final Standings 44.2 2

Referee

Games Sport (Discipline) / Event NOC / Team Phase Unit Role As
1936 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) NOR Oskar Olsen
500 metres, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Starter
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Starter
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Starter
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Starter

Olympic family relations

Special Notes