Thorleif Schjelderup facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
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| Nationality | Norwegian | ||||||||||
| Born | 20 January 1920 Oslo, Norway |
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| Died | 28 May 2006 (aged 86) Oslo, Norway |
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| Occupation | Author, skier | ||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Sossen Krohg Anne Brown |
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| Sport | |||||||||||
| Sport | Ski jumping | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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Thorleif Schjelderup (born January 20, 1920 – died May 28, 2006) was a talented Norwegian ski jumper. He was also a well-known author and someone who cared deeply about nature.
A Champion Ski Jumper
Thorleif grew up in Oslo, Norway. His father, Ferdinand Schjelderup, was a judge and a famous mountain climber. Thorleif started ski jumping when he was young. He quickly became very good at it.
He competed in the famous Holmenkollen ski festival. He placed fourth in 1940. Later, he came in second place in both 1946 and 1948. In 1948, he also won a bronze medal at the Norwegian national championships. That same year, he earned a bronze medal at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz. This was a big achievement for him.
Thorleif also studied law at the Oslo University. He finished his studies in 1948. On March 15, 1950, he made history. He became the first Norwegian ski jumper to jump over 100 meters! He jumped an amazing 106 meters in Planica, Yugoslavia. He stopped competing in 1953. After that, he became a ski jumping coach. He coached the Italian national team from 1953 to 1956. Then, he coached the Norwegian national team from 1956 to 1962.
More Than Just Skiing: Author and Environmentalist
Besides his amazing ski jumping career, Thorleif Schjelderup was also a respected author. He was a talented photographer too. He loved to travel around Norway. He encouraged people to get outside and enjoy nature.
He wrote 10 books during his life. Most of his books were about ski jumping or the beauty of nature. In 1973, he wrote a very important book. It was the first textbook in Norway about protecting the environment. This book was for elementary school students. It helped teach young people about caring for our planet.
His Family Life
Thorleif Schjelderup was married to the Norwegian actress Sossen Krohg. They were married from 1942 to 1947. In 1948, he met the American singer Anne Brown. She moved to Oslo, and they got married there. Later, he lived with the musical actress Ranveig Eckhoff for several years. They spent some time living in Stockholm, Sweden.
