Amund Martin Sjøbrend Nor

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

Result Distance Date Tournament Venue
4 Allround Men Junior 2 March 1972 ISU Junior Championships Men 1972 Lisleby
5 Allround Men Junior 21 January 1973 ISU Junior Championships Men 1973 Assen
Silver 2 Allround Men 27 January 1974 European Championships Men 1974 Eskilstuna
NS3 Allround Men 10 February 1974 World Championships Men 1974 Inzell
16 Allround Men 26 January 1975 European Championships Men 1975 Heerenveen
7 Allround Men 9 February 1975 World Championships Men 1975 Oslo
4 Allround Men 25 January 1976 European Championships Men 1976 Oslo
13 5000 m Men 11 February 1976 Olympic Winter Games 1976 Innsbruck
10 10000 m Men 14 February 1976 Olympic Winter Games 1976 Innsbruck
7 Allround Men 29 February 1976 World Championships Men 1976 Heerenveen
Bronze 3 Allround Men 23 January 1977 European Championships Men 1977 Larvik
6 Allround Men 13 February 1977 World Championships Men 1977 Heerenveen
7 Allround Men 29 January 1978 European Championships Men 1978 Oslo
8 Allround Men 26 February 1978 World Championships Men 1978 Göteborg
9 Allround Men 21 January 1979 European Championships Men 1979 Deventer
8 Allround Men 12 February 1979 World Championships Men 1979 Oslo
4 Allround Men 2 March 1980 World Championships Men 1980 Heerenveen
Gold 1 Allround Men 25 January 1981 European Championships Men 1981 Deventer
Gold 1 Allround Men 15 February 1981 World Championships Men 1981 Oslo

World Cup Results

Result Distance Date Tournament Venue
18 3000 m / 5000 m Men 30 December 1978 Nyttårsløpene (Uniekaas Trophy 1) Oslo
Bronze 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