Clas Thunberg biography

 Clas Thunberg biography

Clas Thunberg, in full Arnold Clas Robert Thunberg, (born April 5, 1893, Helsinki, Finland—died July 28, 1973, Helsinki), Finnish pace skater who, with Ivar Ballangrud of Norway, dominated the game within the Twenties and ’30s. He gained 5 Olympic gold medals, a file for male pace skaters that was matched by Eric Heiden in 1980.

Thunberg started competing on the worldwide degree on the age of 28, skating on the 1922 world championships. Two years later he made his Winter Olympics debut at Chamonix, France, the place he gained three gold medals (1,500- and 5,000-metre races and the mixed occasion), a silver (10,000-metre race), and a bronze (500-metre race). Thunberg, probably the most adorned athlete at Chamonix, grew to become often called “Nurmi on ice,” a reference to the nice Finnish long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi. In 1928 on the Games in Saint Moritz, Switzerland, Thunberg gained the 1,500-metre occasion and shared the gold medal within the 500-metre race with Bernt Evensen of Norway. At the age of 39, Thunberg, who was in distinctive situation from year-round coaching, was scheduled to compete on the 1932 Games in Lake Placid, New York, U.S. However, enraged by the pack-style racing launched by the Americans, he withdrew from the Games. It was his final Olympics.

From 1922 to 1932, Thunberg was a four-time European champion and a five-time world champion. He set three world information, together with his final coming in 1931 on the age of 37. In 1935 Thunberg made his closing world championship look and shortly after retired from competitors. He later grew to become concerned in politics, serving within the Finnish parliament.