Clas Thunberg from Finland took over the as new "king of speed skating" after Oscar Mathisen when he won 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal in the first Olympic Games in Chamonix 1924. He won 1500 m and 5000 m, in addition to the only gold in allround combination ever awarded. He continued his Olympic success with 2 gold medals in St.Moritz 1928 (500 m and 1500 m). He was the oldest Olympic champion in the history of Olympic speed skating when he won his last Olympic gold, 34 years and 315 days old. He dominated speed skating in the 1920s and early 1930s. He was 5 times world champion and 4 times european champion.

In his younger years, before his speed skating career started, Thunberg is known to be smoking and drinking quite a lot. He did not start speed skating until he was 18 years old, and he started in his first competition at the age of 20. He was 28 years old when he started in his first international tournament, the european championship in 1922, which he won. He continued skating until the age of 42, taking part in his last international tournament in 1935. He was working as a master bricklayer in his hometown, Helsinki.

Among his 4 World Records was a record on 1000 m, a distance which was seldom skated at this time. His record would stand unbeated for 25 years before is was finally beaten by Yevgeny Grishin in 1955.

He was one of the few speed skating kings never to reach the top of the Adelskalender. He never managed to dethrone Oscar Mathisen. He was number two, behind Mathisen, for a little less than two years, 28 February 1928 - 10 January 1930.

By Bjarte Hetland, last updated November 29, 2005