The International Skating Union (ISU) pays tribute to Norwegian Speed Skating legend Amund Sjøbrend, who has passed away at the age of 73. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy as an inspirational athlete and a dedicated, compassionate coach whose lifelong commitment to the sport touched the lives of generations of skaters and earned him the admiration and respect of friends and fans far beyond the borders of his native Norway.

Having placed fourth at the 1972 ISU Junior Speed Skating World Championships, he made his high-level international debut at the European Championship 1974, where he lost the battle for the title by the smallest margin. This marked the beginning of the era of the iconic Norwegian “S quartet” (also called “the Four S-es”) including Olympic and World Champion Sten Stensen, Olympic Champion Jan Egil Storholt and two times European Champion Kay Stenshjemmet. They won altogether six European Championships between 1975 and 1981. Such was their dominance as a quartet, that they monopolized the top four on two separate occasions. During these years, they picked up more than half of the European and World Championship medals and the majority of distance victories at these Championships. Amund Sjøbrend won the 1500m on three occasions at World Championships, and during his career he collected victories over all four distances (500, 1500, 5000, 10000 meters) at European Championships. 

1981 marked the pinnacle of Sjøbrend’s racing career, as he claimed both the European and World titles. His World Championship triumph on home ice at Oslo’s Bislett Stadium was witnessed by more than 30,000 spectators each day. In a fitting conclusion, he shared the podium with fellow Norwegians Stenshjemmet and Storholt after a titanic battle with the former. It was only the second time since the Second World War that athletes from a single country had swept all three medals.

Sjøbrend’s passion for Speed Skating continued to shine through his work as a coach, inspiring and guiding a new generation of skaters, some of whom had once looked up to him as an athlete. Among those who benefited from his guidance was Nils Einar Aas, President of the Norwegian Skating Association, who trained under Sjøbrend and learned from his wealth of knowledge, generous spirit and inclusive approach.

His legacy in the sport also continued through his daughter, Julie Berg Sjøbrend, who represented Norway in international competition after being selected for the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

The ISU pays tribute to Amund Sjøbrend’s remarkable career and lasting contribution to skating, and extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire Norwegian skating community.