Reidar Jørgensen

Reidar Jørgensen (5 October 1904 – 22 September 1985) was a Norwegian middle-distance runner, cross-country skier, botanist and educator.

Sports career He was born in Lillehammer. He competed in the 1500 metres at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, where he was knocked out in the first round. He was Norwegian champion several times in 800 metres, 1500 metres and 5000 metres. He took the 800 metres title in 1927 before Hjalmar Johannessen's dominance in the event started; and also the bronze medal in 1928 behind Johannessen and Olaf Strand. In the 1500 he won three straight titles in 1927, 1928 and 1929. A 5000 gold, his only national medal in the event, was added in 1931. He represented Lillehammer IF. After that he moved to Trondheim, changed clubs to SK Freidig and took a final national title in the 1500 metres in 1933.

Jørgensen's personal best times were 3:56.5 in the 1500 metres (1933), 8:39.4 in the 3000 metres (1929) and 15:07.8 in the 5000 metres (1930). He was the first Norwegian to run below 4 minutes in the 1500 metres in 1929, with 3:56.6, and in total he set four Norwegian records in the event. He also set one record in the 3000 metres.

Jørgensen was also an adept skier for the clubs Lillehammer SK and Trondhjems SK. For his achievement in both athletics and skiing, he was awarded Egebergs Ærespris in 1929. He chaired the Trondheim branch of the Norwegian Trekking Association, He also wrote Die Höhengrenzen der Gefässpflanzen in Troms fylke about similar plants in high areas of Troms in 1936, and wrote about the alpine flora Fjellflora in 1952 together with Olav Gjærevoll.