Torgeir BRANDTZÄG

Torgeir Brandtzæg first came to national attention when he placed seventh at Holmenkollen 1962, aged only 20. His international breakthrough came the next season, when he placed fifth in the Four Hills Tournament in Austria and Germany. Later that season he won his first national title. In 1964 he earned a bronze medal in both the normal and large hill at the Innsbruck Olympics and defended his national title. The 1965 season started well for Brandtzæg, winning the Four Hills Tournament, with victories in three of the four events. He won the national championship on the large hill and was second on the normal hill. Brandtzæg later went to a competition in Pitkävuori, Finland, where he fell badly on a training jump, breaking his right leg in three places, which sadly ended his jumping career.

Brandtzæg was a very popular ski jumper, famous for his bold style, often placing his head below the leading part of his skis. After his jumping career he married and became a farmer in Sparbu until his retirement. One of his sons, Roy Brandtzæg, became a European power lifting champion.