Julius Skutnabb

Updated：2008-07-09 11:23 | Source：beijing2008.cn

　　Saint-Moritz, 13 February 1928: Julius SKUTNABB of Finland (in the foreground), silver medallist, in action in the speed skating 5000m event during the II Olympic Winter Games. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections

　　Born: 12 June 1889

　　Deceased: 26 February 1965

　　Birthplace: N/A

　　Nationality: Finland

　　Sport: Skating

　　ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

　　Chamonix 1924

　　St. Moritz 1928

　　AWARDS

　　Olympic medals:

　　Gold: 1

　　Silver: 2

　　Bronze: 1

　　Other results:

　　World Championships

　　Bronze: 1 (24)

　　European Championships

　　Gold: 1 (26)

　　Late bloomer on ice

　　Speed skater Julius Skutnabb competed in his first world championship in 1914. His promising career was then interrupted by World War I. When international competition began again in 1922, Skutnabb, who made his living as a fireman, was already 32 years old. At the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix in 1924, he took part in every speed skating event. He earned a silver medal in the 5,000m race and placed tenth in the 500m. He finished fourth in the 1,500m, missing a medal by one second. But he also won the 10, 000m, finishing three seconds ahead of fellow Finn, Clas Thunberg. The Chamonix Games were the only ones at which a combined event was contested. Based on his results in the four individual races, Skutnabb earned a bronze medal in the combined. Skutnabb won the all-around title at the 1926 European Championships and then returned to the Olympics in 1928. Competing only in the 5,000m race, he earned another silver medal to become, at age 38, the oldest male speed skater ever to win a medal at the Olympics.

Editor : LiuAnqi