Roald Edgar Aas (25 March 1928 – 18 February 2012) was a speed skater and cyclist from Norway. He was born in Oslo. Aas was the number two speed skater in Norway through the entire 1950s—initially after Hjalmar Andersen, later after Knut Johannesen. He became Norwegian champion once, in 1956, but finished second seven times.

Roald Aas
Roald Aas in 1952
Personal information
Birth nameRoald Edgar Aas
NationalityNorwegian
Born25 March 1928
Oslo, Norway
Died18 February 2012(2012-02-18) (aged 83)
Oslo, Norway
Sport
CountryNorway
SportSpeed skating
ClubOslo Idrettslag
Oslo Skøiteklub
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)500 m: 42.3 (1960)
1500 m: 2:10.4 (1960)
3000 m: 4:41.7 (1958)
5000 m: 8:01.6 (1956)
10 000 m: 17:08.1 (1956)
Medal record
Men's speed skating
Representing  Norway
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1960 Squaw Valley 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 1952 Oslo 1500 m

Aas participated in all international championships between 1951 and 1960, almost always finishing in the top ten. He won bronze at the World Allround Speed Skating Championships in 1958, and at two European Speed Skating Championships, in 1957 and 1960. At the Oslo Winter Olympics, he won bronze on the 1500 m, while at the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics in 1960, he finally won gold, shared with Yevgeny Grishin, also in 1500 m.

Aas also was a successful cyclist, winning the 1956 Norwegian Championships in both road cycling and track cycling. For his achievements as both a speed skater and a cyclist, Aas was awarded the prestigious Egebergs Ærespris in 1956.

Until 1956, Aas represented Oslo Idrettslag (Oslo Sports Club) – from 1957 on, he represented Oslo Skøiteklub (Oslo Skating Club). When he ended his skating career, he became a coach at Oslo Skøiteklub.

After his retirement, he worked as a stock manager for Jordan Dental.[1]

Medals

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An overview of medals won by Aas at important championships he participated in, listing the years in which he won each:

Championships Gold medal Silver medal Bronze medal
Winter Olympics 1960 (1500 m) 1952 (1500 m)
World Allround 1958
European Allround 1957
1960
Norwegian Allround 1956 1952
1953
1955
1957
1958
1959
1960
1951

Personal records

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To put these personal records in perspective, the WR column lists the official world records on the dates that Aas skated his personal records.

Event Result Date Venue WR
500 m 42.3 28 February 1960 Squaw Valley 40.2
1000 m 1:27.4
1500 m 2:10.4 26 February 1960 Squaw Valley 2:06.3
3000 m 4:41.7 22 March 1958 Geilo 4:40.2
5000 m 8:01.6 29 January 1956 Misurina 7:45.6
10000 m 17:08.2 19 January 1958 Notodden 16:32.6

Aas has an Adelskalender score of 185.337 points. His highest ranking on the Adelskalender was a thirteenth place.

References

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  1. ^ "Roald Aas". Olympedia. OLYMadMen. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
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Awards
Preceded by Egebergs Ærespris
1956
Succeeded by