Birger Wasenius, from Helsinki, was the last World Champion before World War II broke out. After several attempts during the 1930s, he finally suceeded in beating his Norwegian rivals in his hometown, under difficult conditions and soft ice. Six years earlier he placed 2nd behind Ivar Ballangrud in the European Championships. This was his international debut. In 1934 he lost the World Title to Bernt Evensen because of a bad 1500 m.

In 1936 Wasenius was the only real competitor to the Norwegians in the Olympic Games. One week before the Games started he placed 2nd in the World Championships, once again beaten by Ballangrud. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen he won three medals, and he was less than 10 seconds from three gold medals - 1.7 seconds behind Charles Mathiesen on 1500 m, 3.7 behind Ivar Ballangrud on 5000 m and 3.9 behind him on 10000 m. On the 10000 m Wasenius was paired with Ballangrud, and this race is considered one of the greatest and most exciting in the history of speed skating. Ballangrud started with a faster pace than Wasenius, and the Finn tried to adjust the pace to catch up with him, without succeeding. After 4400 m he was too far behind Ballangrud and gave up, and concentrated on beating Austrian Max Stiepl, who had done 17.30,0 in a previous pair. He managed to beat him by 1,8 seconds - totally exhausted when he crossed the finishing line.

He was six times Finnish Champion. Most of the times he did not have much competition; in 1939 he was 7.5 points ahead of number two.

Wasenius died only 28 years old. He fell on the ice of Ladoga during the Finnish-Russian winter war in 1940.

Highest rank on the Adelskalender: 3 (1937)

By Bjarte Hetland, last updated November 27, 2005