Jan HALVARSSON

Jan Halvarsson started with Föllinge NS and moved to the Hammerdals IF in 1968. He started his career in 1966 winning championships at the district level. The greatest success of his career came at the 1968 Winter Olympics running the first leg of the relay, leading the Swedish team to an unchallenged silver medal. He also finished fifth in the 30 km event and achieved good positions in his other two individual events. Another major international success came at the 1970 World Championships in the High Tatra Mountains with three top 10 placings in the three individual events, while in the relay, he helped Sweden win a bronze medal. In the same year, he was the first to win the first mountain prize of the Vasa run, placing third overall. In the Swedish Championships he claimed victory in the 1968 50 km, adding three national relay titles.

Halvarsson was famous for his waxing skills even internationally and later became responsible in this field for the national team, but left his post after quarrels with the Swedish federation. He later lived in Hammerdal running a joiner’s workshop.