Wikipedia

Jan Egil Storholt

Jan Egil Storholt (born 13 February 1949) is a former speed skater from Norway. He was born in Løkken Verk which at the time was part of the Meldal municipality.[1]

Jan Egil Storholt
Jan Egil Storholt in 1979
Personal information
NationalityNorwegian
Born (1949-02-13) 13 February 1949 (age 75)
Løkken Verk, Norway
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight80 kg (176 lb)
Sport
CountryNorway
SportMen's speed skating
ClubSportsklubben Falken
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)500 m: 38.07 (1977)
1000 m: 1:16.77 (1977)
1500 m: 1:55.18 (1977)
3000 m: 4:09.05 (1978)
5000 m: 7:01.16 (1977)
10 000 m: 14:49.26 (1978)
Medal record
Representing  Norway
Men's speed skating
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1976 Innsbruck 1,500 m
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1977 Heerenveen Allround
Silver medal – second place 1978 Gothenburg Allround
Silver medal – second place 1979 Oslo Allround
Bronze medal – third place 1981 Oslo Allround
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1977 Larvik Allround
Gold medal – first place 1979 Deventer Allround
Silver medal – second place 1980 Trondheim Allround
Bronze medal – third place 1976 Oslo Allround
Bronze medal – third place 1978 Oslo Allround

Biography

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Together with Amund Sjøbrend, Sten Stensen, and Kay Stenshjemmet, Jan Egil Storholt was one of the legendary four S-es (which sounds like "four aces" in Norwegian), four Norwegian top skaters in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Storholt grew up in the village of Løkken about 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Trondheim. He became a member of sports club Falken ("Falcon") in Trondheim. Falken was the club 1948 Olympic 1,500 m Champion Sverre Farstad and three-time 1952 Olympic Champion (on the 1,500 m, 5000 m, and 10000 m) Hjalmar Andersen had skated for.

Storholt was the Norwegian Junior Champion in 1969, but when he was almost killed in a mining accident in 1970, he was told he would probably not be able to compete at the highest levels again, and it seemed that his promising career had already come to an end. However, Storholt's determination got him back to the Norwegian top by 1972. After some of the best Norwegian speed skaters had turned professional in 1973 (and therefore also could no longer participate in the Olympic Games), Storholt suddenly was one of the best Norwegian amateurs.

It still took until 1976 for his first major international successes: After having won bronze at the European Allround Championships that year, Storholt went on to win Olympic gold on the 1,500 m in Innsbruck. This made him the third Olympic 1,500 m Champion for sports club Falken. In 1977 he became European Allround Champion and was narrowly defeated by Eric Heiden in the World Allround Championships. He won silver behind Heiden in three consecutive World Championships, and became European Allround Champion for the second time in 1979. This year he won his only Norwegian allround title as a senior.

Storholt ended his speed skating career in 1981, after having won bronze in the World Championships.

Medals

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An overview of medals won by Storholt at important championships he participated in, listing the years in which he won each:

Championships Gold medal Silver medal Bronze medal
Winter Olympics 1976 (1500 m) – –
World Allround – 1977
1978
1979		 1981
World Sprint – – –
European Allround 1977
1979		 1980 1976
1978
Norwegian Allround 1979 1975 1977
1978
Norwegian Sprint – 1976
1977
1981		 1974
1980

Records

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World records

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Over the course of his career, Storholt skated two world records:

Discipline Time Date Location
1500 m 1.55,18 March 20, 1977   Medeo
Big combination 163.221 March 20, 1977   Medeo

Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com[2]

Personal records

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To put these personal records in perspective, the WR column lists the official world records on the dates that Storholt skated his personal records.

Event Result Date Venue WR
500 m 38.07 19 March 1977 Medeo 37.00
1000 m 1:16.77 3 January 1978 Oslo 1:15.33
1500 m 1:55.18 20 March 1977 Medeo 1:55.61
3000 m 4:09.05 2 March 1978 Inzell 4:08.3 
5000 m 7:01.16 19 March 1977 Medeo 7:02.38
10000 m 14:49.26 19 March 1978 Medeo 14:33.34
Big combination 163.221 20 March 1977 Medeo 165.884

Note that Storholt's personal record on the 5,000 m was not a world record because Kay Stenshjemmet skated 6:56.9 at the same tournament.

Storholt was number one on the Adelskalender, the all-time allround speed skating ranking, for a total of 30 days, divided over two short periods in 1977 and 1978. He has an Adelskalender score of 163.042 points.

References

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  1. ^ "Jan Egil Storholt". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Jan Egil Storholt". SpeedSkatingStats.com. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  • Eng, Trond. All Time International Championships, Complete Results: 1889 - 2002. Askim, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 2002.
  • Eng, Trond; Gjerde, Arild and Teigen, Magne. Norsk Skøytestatistikk Gjennom Tidene, Menn/Kvinner, 1999 (6. utgave). Askim/Skedsmokorset/Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 1999.
  • Eng, Trond; Gjerde, Arild; Teigen, Magne and Teigen, Thorleiv. Norsk Skøytestatistikk Gjennom Tidene, Menn/Kvinner, 2004 (7. utgave). Askim/Skedsmokorset/Veggli/Hokksund, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 2004.
  • Eng, Trond and Teigen, Magne. Komplette Resultater fra offisielle Norske Mesterskap på skøyter, 1894 - 2005. Askim/Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 2005.
  • Teigen, Magne. Komplette Resultater Norske Mesterskap På Skøyter, 1887 - 1989: Menn/Kvinner, Senior/Junior. Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 1989.
  • Teigen, Magne. Komplette Resultater Internasjonale Mesterskap 1889 - 1989: Menn/Kvinner, Senior/Junior, allround/sprint. Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 1989.
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