Randi Thorvaldsen

Randi Thorvaldsen (4 March 1925, in Øvre Eiker – 10 February 2011) was a Norwegian speedskater, silver medalist from the allround World Championship, and a previous World Record holder in 1,500 metres. She was the dominating female speedskater in Norway from the end of the Second World War to 1954. She was born in Fiskum, Øvre Eiker, and represented the club IF Liv, Hønefoss.

Randi Thorvaldsen

Personal information
Born	(1925-03-04)4 March 1925 Fiskum, Norway
Died	10 February 2011(2011-02-10) (aged 85)
Sport
Country	Norway
Sport	Speed skating
Medal record Representing Norway Women's speed skating World Championships 1951 Eskilstuna Allround 1952 Kokkola Allround

National merits

Thorvaldsen won the first national all-round speed skating championship held in Norway after World War II, in 1946. She became Norwegian all-round champion nine years in a row, every year from 1946 to 1954. In these championships she won 34 distances, out of 36 possible. She set ten national records during her career. Her national record on 5,000 m from 1953, 9:35.6, was unbeaten for 29 years, until 1982.

World championships

Thorvaldsen participated in eight World Championships. She placed fourth in 1948, and again fourth in 1949, and ninth in 1950. She won a silver medal at the World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Women in 1951 in Eskilstuna, behind Eevi Huttunen. At the 1951 championship she won the 500 m distance with the time 49.4, placed second at 1,000 m (1:42.6), second on 3,000 m (5:56.0) and second on 5,000 m (9:54.8), resulting in the samalog (total score) 219.513. At the World Championships in 1952 in Kokkola she won the bronze medal, after placing second on 500 m and 1,500 m, fifth on 3,000 m and sixth on 5,000 m. At the 1953 World Championships she finished sixth, and again sixth in 1954.

Records

Thorvaldsen set a world record in women's 1500 m in Gjøvik in 1950, when she improved Laila Schou Nilsen's previous record from 1937. Her new record, 2:37.5, lasted less than one month, when it was beaten by Rimma Zhukova.

World records Distance Result Date Location 1,500 m 2:37.5 25 February 1950 Gjøvik

Norwegian records Distance Result Date Location 3,000 m 5:38.7 7 March 1948 Rjukan 3,000 m 5:38.0 12 February 1949 Kongsberg 1,500 m 2:37.5 25 February 1950 Gjøvik 3,000 m 5:34.1 26 February 1950 Gjøvik Mini combination 207.883 25 February 1950 Gjøvik 1500 m 2:32.4 2 February 1952 Trondheim 1,000 m 1:39.7 3 February 1952 Trondheim 3,000 m 5:33.8 3 February 1952 Trondheim Mini combination 204.283 3 February 1952 Trondheim 5,000 m 9:35.6 22 February 1953 Lillehammer

Personal records Distance Result Date Location 500 m 48.0 2 February 1952 Trondheim 1,000 m 1:39.7 3 February 1952 Trondheim 1,500 m 2:32.4 2 February 1952 Trondheim 3,000 m 5:33.8 3 February 1952 Trondheim 5,000 m 9:35.6 22 February 1953 Lillehammer Mini combination 204.283 3 February 1952 Trondheim

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Eng, Trond. All Time International Championships: Complete Results, 1889-2002. Askim, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 2002.
• Eng, Trond and Magne Teigen. Norske Mesterskap på Skøyter, 1894-2005. Askim/Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 2005.
• Teigen, Magne. Komplette Resultater: Internasjonale Mesterskap, 1889–1989, 1887–1989, menn/kvinner, senior/junior, allround/sprint. Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 1989.
• Teigen, Magne. Komplette Resultater: Norske Mesterskap på Skøyter, 1887–1989, menn/kvinner, senior/junior. Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 1989.
• Teigen, Magne and Preben G. Petersen. Norsk Skøyteleksikon 1988. Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Norway, 1988.
• Teigen, Magne; Trond Eng, Arild Gjerde, Thorleif Teigen and Preben G. Petersen. Norsk Skøytestatistikk Gjennom Tidene 2004. Askim/Skedsmokorset/Veggli/Hokksund, Norway: WSSSA-Norway, 2004.

External links

• Randi Thorvaldsen in SpeedSkatingBase.eu (archived)
• Randi Thorvaldsen at SpeedSkatingNews.info
• Randi Thorvaldsen at SpeedSkatingStats.com