Odd Martinsen


Odd-Willy Martinsen is a retired Norwegian cross-country skier who competed during the 1960s and 1970s. He won three medals at the Winter Olympics, a gold in the 4 × 10 km relay and silvers in the 30 km and the 4 × 10 km relay. Martinsen won five medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, a gold in the 4 × 10 km relay, a silver in the 15 km, and bronzes in the 15 km, 30 km, and 4 × 10 km relay. At the 1969 Holmenkollen ski festival, he won the 15 km race. For his cross-country skiing successes in Norway and abroad, Martinsen received the Holmenkollen medal in 1969. Thirty-two years later, his daughter, Bente Skari, received the Holmenkollen medal, making them the only father-daughter combination to ever win the prestigious honor.
Domestically Martinsen won Norwegian titles in the 15 km, 30 km and 4 × 10 km relay. After retiring from competitions he became a skiing official and headed the FIS cross-country committee in 1986–2002. At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, he served as chief of the cross-country skiing competitions. He also founded the ski firm Finor AS, which was later run by his daughter and son.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation.

Olympic Games

Year Age 15 km 30 km 50 km 4 × 10 km
relay
196623Bronze——Gold
197027SilverBronze—4
19743133——Bronze
19783527———