Per Ivar Moe was the wonderboy of Norwegian speed skating during the skating revolution in 1963. He was born in Lillehammer, but later he moved to Oslo. He was taken into the national team in April 1962, and started training after the new training principles introduced by the new national team coach, Stein Johnsen. At the age of 18 he got a bronze medal in his first international championship, the European Championships in 1963. The next year he lost an Olympic gold medal on 5000 m by 0.2 seconds. In 1965, at the age of 20, he became World champion, and the first Norwegian speed skater to become World champion at Bislett. After a disappointing season in 1966 he decided to quit speed skating and concentrate on his studies.

During the Olympic 5000 m in 1964 Moe was in the lead most of the race, but Knut Johannesen was closing in at the end. When Johannesen crossed the finishing line, the scoreboard showed 7.38,7, one tenth behind Moe. Johannesen closed his eyes in resignation, and for a split second Moe thought he was Olympic champion. When Johannesen opened his eyes, the time was corrected: 7.38,4, and Moe had lost the gold.

In 1964 he was the first to beat Knut Johannesen in the Norwegian Championships in 8 years. In 1965 he was awarded the Oscar Mathisen Trophy.

#1 on the Adelskalender: 26 January 1964 - 13 February 1965, a total of 384 days.

By Bjarte Hetland, last updated November 28, 2005