Harald STRÖM

Harald Strøm was World Champion in 1922 and European Champion in 1923. In 1921 he was the first skater to better 8:30 in the 5,000 m, clocking 8:27.7 in a famous duel with Clas Thunberg on the Frogner ice rink in Oslo. During the 1922 World Championships, at the same track, he improved his own world record to 8:26.5, a record which would stand for seven years. Harald Strøm was one of the big favorites before the 1924 Olympic speed skating events, but got the flu after the Opening Ceremony in which he carried the Norwegian flag. In spite of that he started in all four distances, but was outside the medals with fourth place in the allround competition as his best Olympic placing.

Strøm was also an excellent football player, winning two Norwegian Championships with his club Ørn Horten in 1920 and 1927, and playing 16 matches for the Norwegian national side. In 1921 Harald Strøm was awarded the Egebergs Ærespris, a prestigious Norwegian award given to athletes who have excelled in more than one sport.

Personal Bests: 500 – 45.2 (1922); 1500 – 2:24.2 (1923); 5000 – 8:26.5 (1922); 10000 – 17:32.8 (1921).