Odd MARTINSEN

Odd Martinsen was a top cross-country skier in the 1960s and 70s. Known for his top-end speed, he usually started relays for Norway and was nicknamed “Relay-Martin” as a result. He won three medals at the Winter Olympics, highlighted by his 1968 relay gold, also winning silvers in the 1968 30 km and the 1976 relay. Martinsen won five medals at the World Championships, with gold in the 1966 relay, silver in the 1970 15 km, and three bronzes – 1966 15 km, 1970 30 km, and 1974 relay. Martinsen was Holmenkollen Champion over 15 km in 1969 and was given the Holmenkollen Medal that year. During his career Martinsen won 11 Norwegian Championships – 15 km (1966, 1970), 30 km (1969, 1971), and relay (1970, 1972-76, 1978).

In 2001 Martinsen’s daughter, Bente Skari-Martinsen, also received the Holmenkollen Medal, making them the only father-daughter pair to receive that award, through 2013. His daughter bested her father by winning five Olympic medals from 1994-2002. Martinsen himself later started a ski firm, Finor AS, which was eventually taken over by his daughter and a son. He also became a ski racing official, serving as chief of competition for the cross-country races at Lillehammer in 1994, and was leader of the FIS cross-country committee from 1986-2002.