Amund Martin Sjøbrend
Given name | Amund Martin |
Surname | Sjøbrend |
Sex | Male |
Born | 1 December 1952 |
Amund Sjøbrend, from Sør-Odal, was one of the Norwegian S'es, dominating international speed skating at the end of the 1970s. He made his international debut in the 1972 ISU Junior Championships, placing 4th. In his first championships as a senior - the European Championships 1974, he was the big surprise. After winning both 500 m and 1500 m, and placing 3rd on the 5000 m, he was in the lead before the finishing 10000 m. But Göran Claeson got too strong and beat him by 0.023 samalog points. In the World Championships in Inzell later this season Sjøbrend got problems with the moist mountain air, and he collapsed during his 5000 m and had to withdraw from the competition.
In 1975 he won the National Championships, but from 1976 to 1980 he was more or less in the shadow of his famous teammates - Storholt, Stensen, and Stenshjemmet. He had no luck on Olympic Games. In 1976 he was not qualified for his favorite distance - 1500 m, and the changing ice conditions made it impossible for him to fight for medals on 5000 m and 10000 m. Before the Olympic season of 1980 he trained harder than ever before and ended up being overtrained and did not qualify for the Olympic Games. In national races during the games he proved to be in shape after all, and he qualified for the Norwegian team for the World Championships, placing 4th.
He had his best season in 1981, winning both the European and the World Title.
The world title was not his until the last lap of his 10000 m. With one lap to go Kay Arne Stenshjemmet still had the title in his pocket, but he did 39,9 (!) on his last lap, and Sjøbrend won the title by 0.106 points; 2,1 seconds on 10000 m.
He was awarded the Oscar Mathisen Trophy in 1981.
Highest rank on the Adelskalender: 12 (1976)
Last updated on 18 December 2005 by Bjarte Hetland.International Championship Results
World Cup Results
Result | Distance | Date | Tournament | Venue | |
18 | 3000 m / 5000 m Men | 30 December 1978 | Nyttårsløpene (Uniekaas Trophy 1) | Oslo | |
3 | 3000 m / 5000 m Men | 25 February 1979 | Uniekaas Trophy 3 | Alkmaar | |
4 | Allround Men | 4 March 1979 | Goldener Schlittschuh von Inzell (Uniekaas Trophy 4) | Inzell |
World Cup Standings
Result | Distance | Season | |
10 | Allround Men | Uniekaas Trophy 1978-1979 |