Johs HARVIKEN

Harviken first came to national attention when he won the bronze medal at the 15 km race at the 1967 Norwegian Championships. Two years later he placed second over 50 km at Holmenkollen. His only individual national title came in 1970 in the 30 km distance. At the 1972 Sapporo Games Harviken won a bronze medal over 30 km, and skied the last leg for Norway’s relay team. In a close duel with the Soviet’s Vyacheslav Vedenin he fell 100 meters from the finish, and the favored Norwegian team had to be content with the silver medal. Harviken ended his skiing career after the 1976 season, failing to qualify for the Norwegian Olympic team. Harviken, a carpenter by profession, was a stylish skier, famous for his long and elegant classic diagonal strides.