After World War II the recovery of speed skating was slow. The only skaters
who made considerable progress during the war were the Swedes,
and among them especially
Åke Seyffarth. Seyffarth had during a nice winter day in Davos 1941
set the world record on 5000 meters to 8.13.7, thereby improving
Ivar Ballangrud's record with 3 and a half seconds. This record was
improved by Kornel Pajor in 1949, who shaved off a further 2 tenths of a
second. In 1949 also "Hjallis" Andersen entered the world record table with
16.57.4, and in 1951, 8.07.3 gave him his second world record. During the
olympics in Oslo 1952, he became the hero of the
Norwegian people, winning 3 gold medals.
"Hjallis" won three world championships: 1950, 1951 and 1952.
During the same years he also took the european titles. Andersen died 2013.
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