Norwegian Olympic speed skater Andersen dies

Norwegian Olympic speed skater Andersen dies

Norwegian speed skate great Hjalmar Andersen, who won three gold medals at the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics, has died at the age of 90, local media reported on Wednesday.

Norwegian speed skater Hjalmar Andersen waves to photographers during the Winter Olympic Games on February 19, 1952 in Oslo. Andersen, who won three gold medals at the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics, has died at the age of 90, local media reported on Wednesday.

Andersen, who swept the board in Oslo over 1,500m, 5000m and 10,000m to become that Games most successful athlete, was also a triple world champion between 1950 and 1952, and a triple European champion.

"A legend" was how he was described by Norway's minister for Culture and Sports, Hadia Tajik.

He set four world records during his career, including setting the first sub-17 minute 10,000m world record in 1949.

On his retirement from his chosen sport Andersen enjoyed a second career in the welfare service for merchant shipping.

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