Ivar Ballangrud (March 7, 1904- June 1,1969) was a Norwegian speed skater.

Ballangrud was one of the best speed skaters in the world for a period of 15 years, from 1924 to 1939. Coming from the small place Lunner on Hadeland, he was a member of the famous "Hadeland trio", consisting of Michael Staksrud and Hans Engnestangen , in addition to Ballangrud.

Ballangrud was four times World champion, four times European champion, five times Norwegian champion, and four times Olympic champion. He won 3 Olympic titles in 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: 500 m (quite surprisingly), 5000 m and 10000 m. He won his first Olympic gold 8 years earlier, 5000 m in 1928 Winter Olympics. In addition he won a bronze medal (1500 m) in 1928 and a silver medal (10000 m) in 1932 Winter Olympics. He would have been the favourite for winning more Olympic gold in 1932 if the races were held in the normal European way, not he American packstyle way.

He made his international debut as a 19-year-old coming star in 1924, although too late to compete in the first Olympics. However, he was paired with the recent Olympic 10000 m champion, Julius Skutnabb , in his first World Championship in Helsinki 1924, and beat the champion on is homeground. In 1930 he dethroned Oscar Mathisen from the top of the Adelskalender, staying on top for seven years after this.

In addition to his five official world records, he did 16.46.4 in a 10000 m packstyle testrace before the Olympic Games in 1932. This was 31 seconds below the current world record, and it would stand unbeated as the fastest 10000 m for 20 years, until Hjalmar Andersen set his famous World Record - 16.32,6.

External link

http://weasel.student.utwente.nl/~speedskating/index.php