Randi Thorvaldsen

Randi Thorvaldsen (4 March 1925, in Øvre Eiker – 10 February 2011) was a Norwegian speedskater, silver medalist from the allround World Championship, and a previous World Record holder in 1,500 metres. She was the dominating female speedskater in Norway from the end of the Second World War to 1954. She was born in Fiskum, Øvre Eiker, and represented the club IF Liv, Hønefoss.

Randi Thorvaldsen
Personal information
Born(1925-03-04)4 March 1925
Fiskum, Norway
Died10 February 2011(2011-02-10) (aged 85)
Sport
CountryNorway
SportSpeed skating
Medal record
Representing  Norway
Women’s speed skating
World Championships
Silver medal – second place1951 Eskilstuna Allround
Bronze medal – third place1952 KokkolaAllround

National merits

Thorvaldsen won the first national all-round speed skating championship held in Norway after World War II, in 1946. She became Norwegian all-round champion nine years in a row, every year from 1946 to 1954.[1][2][3] In these championships she won 34 distances, out of 36 possible.[1] She set ten national records during her career. Her national record on 5,000 m from 1953, 9:35.6, was unbeaten for 29 years, until 1982.[1][4]

World championships

Thorvaldsen participated in eight World Championships. She placed fourth in 1948, and again fourth in 1949, and ninth in 1950. She won a silver medal at the World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Women in 1951 in Eskilstuna, behind Eevi Huttunen. At the 1951 championship she won the 500 m distance with the time 49.4, placed second at 1,000 m (1:42.6), second on 3,000 m (5:56.0) and second on 5,000 m (9:54.8), resulting in the samalog (total score) 219.513.[5][6] At the World Championships in 1952 in Kokkola she won the bronze medal,[1] after placing second on 500 m and 1,500 m, fifth on 3,000 m and sixth on 5,000 m.[5][7] At the 1953 World Championships she finished sixth, and again sixth in 1954.[5][8]

Records

Thorvaldsen set a world record in women's 1500 m in Gjøvik in 1950, when she improved Laila Schou Nilsen's previous record from 1937.[9] Her new record, 2:37.5, lasted less than one month, when it was beaten by Rimma Zhukova.

World records
DistanceResultDateLocation
1,500 m2:37.525 February 1950Gjøvik
Norwegian records
DistanceResultDateLocation
3,000 m5:38.77 March 1948Rjukan
3,000 m5:38.012 February 1949Kongsberg
1,500 m2:37.525 February 1950Gjøvik
3,000 m5:34.126 February 1950Gjøvik
Mini combination207.88325 February 1950Gjøvik
1500 m2:32.42 February 1952Trondheim
1,000 m1:39.73 February 1952Trondheim
3,000 m5:33.83 February 1952Trondheim
Mini combination204.2833 February 1952Trondheim
5,000 m9:35.622 February 1953Lillehammer
Personal records
DistanceResultDateLocation
500 m48.02 February 1952Trondheim
1,000 m1:39.73 February 1952Trondheim
1,500 m2:32.42 February 1952Trondheim
3,000 m5:33.83 February 1952Trondheim
5,000 m9:35.622 February 1953Lillehammer
Mini combination204.2833 February 1952Trondheim

References
Notes
  1. "Randi Thorvaldsen". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget.
  2. Teigen 1989 (Norske Mesterskap), pp. 81-83.
  3. Eng and Teigen 2005, pp. 75-76.
  4. Teigen 1989 (Norske Mesterskap), p. 230.
  5. "Randi Thorvaldsen". SkateResults.com. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  6. Eng 2002, p. 51.
  7. Teigen (Internasjonale Mesterskap) 1989, p. 157.
  8. Eng 2002, pp. 51-52.
  9. "Speed Skating. Complete history list of World Records" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
Bibliography
  • Eng, Trond. All Time International Championships: Complete Results, 1889-2002. Askim, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 2002.
  • Eng, Trond and Magne Teigen. Norske Mesterskap på Skøyter, 1894-2005. Askim/Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 2005.
  • Teigen, Magne. Komplette Resultater: Internasjonale Mesterskap, 1889–1989, 1887–1989, menn/kvinner, senior/junior, allround/sprint. Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 1989.
  • Teigen, Magne. Komplette Resultater: Norske Mesterskap på Skøyter, 1887–1989, menn/kvinner, senior/junior. Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 1989.
  • Teigen, Magne and Preben G. Petersen. Norsk Skøyteleksikon 1988. Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Norway, 1988.
  • Teigen, Magne; Trond Eng, Arild Gjerde, Thorleif Teigen and Preben G. Petersen. Norsk Skøytestatistikk Gjennom Tidene 2004. Askim/Skedsmokorset/Veggli/Hokksund, Norway: WSSSA-Norway, 2004.
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