Kurt Stille

Kurt Stille was the first Danish speed skater to reach the top international level. He participated in international championships from 1957-64, placing 9th on the 10000 m in the 1964 Olympics and 13th in the 1964 World Championships as his best results. In 1960 he was the only Dane to take part in the Olympic Games in Squaw Valley. As he was already living, working and training in Norway, he was also “adopted” by the Norwegian Olympic Team and lived together with them during the Games. He learned a lot from the Norwegian skaters during the preparations for the 1963 season, and 1963 and 1964 would become his best years. Stille was a great favourite among the fans, but quit after the Olympic season. He took up cross-country skiing, where he was seen at motionist races for years to come. He married a Norwegian woman and they settled in Norway. All his Danish records would stand for more than 40 years, until 2005 when the first was beaten by Oliver Sundberg.

Personal Bests: 500 – 43.3 (1963); 1500 – 2:13.9 (1964); 5000 – 7:56.1 (1964); 10000 – 16:28.5 (1964).