Gunnar KONSMO

Gunnar Konsmo was a very promising youngster, skating 500 m in 52.3 at age 13, which was a Norwegian season best in his age group, and two seasons later he did 47.8, also a 1938 Norwegian age group year-best. In 1940 Konsmo became Norwegian junior champion after a close duel with Yngvar Karlsen, who 12 years later became a member of the Norwegian Olympic speed skating team at the Oslo Games. During World War II Konsmo skated a few “illegal” races – organized secretly by the home front. In 1942 he skated the 10K in 18:00.9, an all time PB.

In 1946, Konsmo placed fifth at the Norwegian Championships, his best ever, and placed sixth in the unofficial European Championships. After coming second and fourth at 1,500 m in two important competitions in early January 1948, he was selected for the St. Moritz Olympics. In a selection race over 1,500 m two days before the opening of the Olympic speed skating competitions, Konsmo was paired with Hjalmar Andersen. Both skated PBs, Andersen recording 2:19.9 and Konsmo 2:20.0. It was decided that Andersen should skate the 10K in the Games, and Konsmo the 1,500 m. Konsmo ended 10th, but Andersen did not finish his 10K under very bad conditions, although his Olympic glory would come four years later.

In 1952 Konsmo tried to qualify for another Olympic start, but did not succeed. He had a very long skating career, skating his best 500 m at age 35 in 1958 (43.8), and at age 66 he skated 48.4 in the 500 m, his last season as a skater. His younger brother by six years, Roald Konsmo, was also a decent speed skater, with PBs of 43.7 and 2:22.1, winning the 500 m at the 1948 junior championships and placing third and second in the 500 at the 1949 and 1950 Norwegian Championships, which made him a candidate for the 1952 Olympic team. Together the two brothers owned a construction firm, Brødrene Konsmo, which specialized in housing construction in the Oslo area. Gunnar’s son Øystein Konsmo (born 1952) placed 14th in the 1978 World Sprint Championships after placing fourth at the national sprint championships the same season. His daughter Kirsten Konsmo (born 1954) was the 1972 Norwegian Junior Champion.

Personal Bests: 500 – 43.8 (1958); 1500 – 2:20.0 (1948); 5000 – 8:33.8 (1950); 10000 – 18:00.9 (1942).