Per Willy Guttormsen
Encyclopedia
Per Willy Guttormsen is a former Norwegian
speed skater. He was among the world's best long distance skaters in the 1960s.
Guttormsen's international breakthrough was his 6th place in the 1964 World Speed Skating Championships
, at age 21. That year he was just outside the Norwegian three-man quota on the long distances at the 1964 Winter Olympics
. He participated however in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, and in the 1968 Winter Olympics
he won 4th places in both the 5000 m and 10000 m.
Guttormsen held three world record
s in the course of his skating career. These lasted for 12.7 seconds, for about twenty minutes, and for ten and a half months, respectively.
The first of these was set in the allround big combination samalogue
pointsum event at Madonna di Campiglio
at 13–14 January 1968, where the world record to attack was Kees Verkerk's
178.058, set at Bislett
in Oslo
11–12 February 1967. After skating 42.5, 7:28.7, 2:10.4 at the three first distances, it was clear that Guttormsen would break Verkerk's record if he could skate the 10000 m in 15:44.4 or better. Guttormsen managed to achieve this very time of 15:44.4, and thereby broke the samalogue world record by the slimmest of margins (in itself a world record at the time), with a pointsum 178.056. However, his pairmate Svein-Erik Stiansen
had skated the three first distances faster than Guttormsen, who lost his first world record when Stiansen crossed the finishing line in 15:57.1, achieving a pointsum of 176.982. Guttormsen's second world record was the 10000 m result 15:25.9, set during the European Championships
at Bislett 28 January 1968, breaking Fred Anton Maier's
15:29.5 from Horten
a week earlier. However, Maier set the record straight with 15:20.3 in the following pair. Guttormsen's third and most long-lived world record was again on the 10000 m, with 15:16.1, skated in Inzell
10 March 1968. It lasted until Kees Verkerk's
legendary 15:03.6 on 26 January 1969.
He skated for Norway in each of the World Speed Skating Championships
from 1964 to 1972, apart from 1970, and in these he was ranked 6, 12, 4, 7, 9, 8, 8, 13, respectively. Guttormsen's personal records are 41.2, 1:24.9, 2:04.6, 4:18.9, 7:14.9, 15:13.7. The affectionate and collectively used nickname for Guttormsen was Bettong, as in hard as concrete.
Guttormsen has been engaged in Sami politics, and has represented the political party Sámit Mátta/Lulli-Norggas.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
speed skater. He was among the world's best long distance skaters in the 1960s.
Guttormsen's international breakthrough was his 6th place in the 1964 World Speed Skating Championships
World Speed Skating Championships
The International Skating Union organises the following World Championships in the sport of speed skating:* Allround** Men's Allround** Women's Allround* Sprint** Men's Sprint** Women's Sprint* Men's Single Distances* Women's Single Distances* Short Track...
, at age 21. That year he was just outside the Norwegian three-man quota on the long distances at the 1964 Winter Olympics
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
. He participated however in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, and in the 1968 Winter Olympics
1968 Winter Olympics
The 1968 Winter Olympics, officially known as the X Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1968 in Grenoble, France and opened on 6 February. Thirty-seven countries participated...
he won 4th places in both the 5000 m and 10000 m.
Guttormsen held three world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
s in the course of his skating career. These lasted for 12.7 seconds, for about twenty minutes, and for ten and a half months, respectively.
The first of these was set in the allround big combination samalogue
Samalog
Samalog is a scoring system in speed skating. It is used in allround tournaments to convert results at various distances into points in order to determine an overall champion...
pointsum event at Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio is a village and a ski resort in northeast Italy. It is a frazione of the comune of Pinzolo. The village lies in the Val Rendena at an altitude of 1,522 m...
at 13–14 January 1968, where the world record to attack was Kees Verkerk's
Kees Verkerk
Cornelis Arie Verkerk , better known as Kees Verkerk, is a former speed skater from the Netherlands.-Short biography:...
178.058, set at Bislett
Bislett stadion
Bislett Stadion is a sports stadium in Oslo, Norway. Bislett is Norway's most well known sports arena internationally, with 15 speed skating world records and more than 50 track and field world records having been set here...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
11–12 February 1967. After skating 42.5, 7:28.7, 2:10.4 at the three first distances, it was clear that Guttormsen would break Verkerk's record if he could skate the 10000 m in 15:44.4 or better. Guttormsen managed to achieve this very time of 15:44.4, and thereby broke the samalogue world record by the slimmest of margins (in itself a world record at the time), with a pointsum 178.056. However, his pairmate Svein-Erik Stiansen
Svein-Erik Stiansen
Svein-Erik Stiansen is a former Norwegian speed skater. He represented Oslo Skøiteklub.He participated in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, and in the 1968 Winter Olympics he finished 7th in the 1500 m and 12th in the 5000 m....
had skated the three first distances faster than Guttormsen, who lost his first world record when Stiansen crossed the finishing line in 15:57.1, achieving a pointsum of 176.982. Guttormsen's second world record was the 10000 m result 15:25.9, set during the European Championships
European Speed Skating Championships
The European Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of Europe. The International Skating Union has organised the European Championships for Men since 1893 and the European Championships for Women since 1970. The...
at Bislett 28 January 1968, breaking Fred Anton Maier's
Fred Anton Maier
Fred Anton Maier is a former speed skater from Norway. He was among the dominating skaters throughout the 1960s, specalising in the longer distances....
15:29.5 from Horten
Horten
is a town and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway—located along the Oslofjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand, Skoppum, and Nykirke....
a week earlier. However, Maier set the record straight with 15:20.3 in the following pair. Guttormsen's third and most long-lived world record was again on the 10000 m, with 15:16.1, skated in Inzell
Eisstadion Inzell
Eisstadion Inzell is a stadium located in Inzell, Germany, best known as a speed skating venue. It is an outdoor, artificial ice, rink, located 690 metres above sea level and has a capacity of 20,000 people...
10 March 1968. It lasted until Kees Verkerk's
Kees Verkerk
Cornelis Arie Verkerk , better known as Kees Verkerk, is a former speed skater from the Netherlands.-Short biography:...
legendary 15:03.6 on 26 January 1969.
He skated for Norway in each of the World Speed Skating Championships
World Speed Skating Championships
The International Skating Union organises the following World Championships in the sport of speed skating:* Allround** Men's Allround** Women's Allround* Sprint** Men's Sprint** Women's Sprint* Men's Single Distances* Women's Single Distances* Short Track...
from 1964 to 1972, apart from 1970, and in these he was ranked 6, 12, 4, 7, 9, 8, 8, 13, respectively. Guttormsen's personal records are 41.2, 1:24.9, 2:04.6, 4:18.9, 7:14.9, 15:13.7. The affectionate and collectively used nickname for Guttormsen was Bettong, as in hard as concrete.
Guttormsen has been engaged in Sami politics, and has represented the political party Sámit Mátta/Lulli-Norggas.