Audun Boysen was a Norwegian middle distance

Middle distance track event

Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...

 runner. Born in Bjarkøy

Bjarkøy

Bjarkøy is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bjarkøy. The municipality is spread across several smaller islands, the biggest being the northern side of Grytøya...

 and raised in Rissa

Rissa, Norway

Rissa is a municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Fosen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Årnset...

, he first represented Rissa I.L. and later IK Tjalve

IK Tjalve

Idrettsklubben Tjalve is a Norwegian athletics club from Oslo, founded on 27 December 1890. It is named after Þjálfi in Norse mythology.It is one of the most prominent athletics clubs in Norway, and numerous members have represented Norway in international competitions.IK Tjalve uses the Bislett...

 in Oslo.

Boysen was a prominent 800 metre

800 metres

The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...

 runner in the 1950s, and he won a bronze medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics

1956 Summer Olympics

The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...

, a silver medal at the 1958 European Championships

1958 European Championships in Athletics

The 6th European Athletics Championships were held from 19 August to 24 August 1958 in the Olympic Stadium of Stockholm, Sweden.-Men's results:-Women's results:-Medal table:-References:*...

 and another bronze at the 1954 European Championships

1954 European Championships in Athletics

The 5th European Athletics Championships were held from 25 August to 29 August 1954 in the Swiss capital Bern.-Men's results:-Women's results:-Medal table:- External links :* *...

. He set three world records over 1,000 metres, the last being 2:19.0 in 1955.

The same year he ran 800 metres in 1:45.9, setting a new Norwegian record. Incidentally, the man who beat him in that race, Belgian Roger Moens

Roger Moens

Roger Moens is a former Belgian middle distance runner. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome he won a silver medal. He also was the person to break Rudolf Harbig's long-standing world record over 800 m.-References:...

, ran a world record time. That Norwegian record stood for 37 years until July 3, 1992 when it was broken by Atle Douglas

Atle Douglas

Atle Douglas is a retired Norwegian middle distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres. He represented BFG Fana, SK Vidar, Bergen FIK, IL Gular and IL Norna-Salhus during his active career....

 (1:45.15) and Vebjørn Rodal

Vebjørn Rodal

Vebjørn Rodal is a Norwegian former middle distance athlete, his career high point coming when he won the gold medal in the 800 m at the 1996 Summer Olympics.-Biography:...

(1:45.33). Rodal became Olympic champion four years later.