Rolf Monsen

Rolf Monsen ( born January 8, 1899 in Oslo, Norway, † April 28, 1987 in Bellflower, California ) was an American Nordic skiers.

Career

Monsen, who was born in 1899 in Oslo, emigrated with his family in 1921 to the United States. After being there to Lake Placid Sno -Birds joined, he worked deliberately head for an international career. At the Olympic Winter Games in 1928 in St. Moritz, he put in the Nordic disciplines cross-country skiing, Nordic combined and ski jumping for the first time his skills on the international stage to prove after he had qualified American champion in cross-country skiing. In cross-country skiing he reached number 45 in the combination he had to retire from the race. In ski jumping, he reached the sixth place, the previously best result for a U.S. citizen. Four years later at the Olympic Winter Games in 1932 in his then home in Lake Placid, he started again. After a 33rd place in the cross-country skiing over 18 kilometers, it reached ninth in the combination. This, too, was once again the best result for an American up to that time. Also for the Olympic Winter Games in 1936 he was able to qualify. However, he had to cancel his start due to an injury. He was then given the honor of carrying the American flag at the opening ceremony of the Games.

In 1937 Monsen back from active skiing and got a year later certification as a jury for ski jumping in the United States, Canada and Europe. In 1940 he was appointed by the U.S. Army in the military service and became part of the 10th Mountain Division Ski Troops. After the Second World War, he settled in California. 1964 was admitted to the National Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming.