Reidar Liaklev

Reidar Kristofer Liaklev (15 July 1917 – 1 March 2006) was a speed skater from Norway who won the gold medal in the 5000 m event at the 1948 Winter Olympics. Liaklev was a long distance specialist, yet he won the European Allround Championships in 1948.

Reidar Liaklev

Liaklev at the 1948 European Championships
Personal information
Born	15 July 1917 Jaren, Norway
Died	1 March 2006 (aged 88) Jaren, Norway
Sport
Sport	Speed skating
Club	Brandbu IF
Medal record Representing  Norway Olympic Games 1948 St. Moritz 5000 m European Speed Skating Championships 1948 Hamar Allround 1950 Helsinki Allround

Liaklev won bronze at the junior Norwegian Championships in 1939, and as for most athletes of his time, his career was interrupted by World War II. His first international senior tournament was the 1947 World Allround Championships, where he finished third on the 5,000 m, won the 10,000 m event, and placed fourth overall.

In the first Winter Olympics after World War II, in February 1948, Liaklev won the 5000 m in a time of 8:29.4. He also participated in the 10,000 m, but failed to finish due to breathing problems at high altitudes. Two weeks later, he won the European Championships in Hamar. In 1949, he became Norwegian Allround Champion. The following year he won a silver medal at the European Allround Championships in Helsinki, and won the 10,000 m event there.

Liaklev represented Brandbu Idrettsforening (Brandbu Sports Association). He retired around 1950 and became a speed skating coach and member of the Norwegian Skating Association board.[1] He also worked as a post master and a beekeeper in his home village of Jaren, and served on the community council.[2]