Håkon Brusveen

Career Brusveen had chronic asthmatic bronchitis and took up skiing to improve his condition. In 1952, he placed fifth in the Olympic trials and was selected as a reserve for the Olympic skiing team. He won the national 30 km title in 1953, 1957 and 1958, and around that time opened a sport shop in Lillehammer. Brusveen was originally selected as a substitute member for the 1960 Norwegian Olympic team, but performed well shortly before the Olympics, and was included in the main team upon personal recommendation from King Olav V of Norway. At the Olympics he won the 15 km race, beating Sixten Jernberg by 3 seconds at the finish, but lost by 0.8 seconds to Veikko Hakulinen in the last leg of the 4 × 10 km relay, despite having a 20-second lead at the start. He often collaborated with Bjørge Lillelien on live broadcasting of cross-country events. As a cross-country expert, his reporting style was pioneering at the time; situated somewhere out by the tracks, he commented on skiers' speed, technique, and look when they passed. His last assignment as a sports reporter was the winter season of 1997.

Brusveen was awarded the Holmenkollen Medal in 1958, jointly with Inger Bjørnbakken, and the Morgenbladet Gold Medal in 1960. On his 90th birthday in 2017, a Brusveen exhibition opened at the Norwegian Olympic Museum.

Brusveen died at the age of 93 in Lillehammer on 21 April 2021.

Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games 2 medals – (1 gold, 1 silver) Year Age 15 km 30 km 50 km 4 × 10 km relay 1956 28 5 — — 4 1960 32 Gold — — Silver

World Championships Year Age 15 km 30 km 50 km 4 × 10 km relay 1954 26 20 — — 4 1958 30 5 17 — 4