In loving memory: Bergljot Sandvik Johansen

Photos courtesy of Michelle Sissener Passaro
Bergliot Sandvik Johansen competed in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. She was a Norwegian champion in both gymnastics and figure skating.

Image courtesy of Michelle Sissener Passaro
The official obituary announcement for Bergliot Sandvik Johansen.

Bergljot Sandvik Johansen died Jan. 9, 2020, 18 days before her 98th birthday. She had a long life behind her as an athlete and athletics administrator. She was Norwegian champion in pair figure skating as well as gymnastics. She competed in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki where she was the top Norwegian female athlete.

After her active career as an athlete, Sandvik Johansen had a wide-ranging career as a gymnastics and figure skating judge and as a leader and sports administrator for Norges Skøyteforbund (the Norwegian Skating Association), Oslo Skøytekrets (the Oslo Skating Authority), Oslo Idrettskrets (the Oslo Regional Sports Authority), and Oslo Idrettslag (the Oslo Sports Club). She served many years as deputy and later leader of the central administration of Oslo Idrettslag in the mid-1990s. She was active in administrative work in the Idrettslag until well into the 2010s.

In 2008, she initiated the events marking the 100th anniversary of Bislett sports arena, which gathered many of Norway’s greatest skating and track and field athletes. In 2009, she helped to ensure that a bust of Martinus Lørdahl, founder of Bislett sports arena, would be raised at Bislett. Sandvik Johansen herself, along with former mayor of Oslo, Fabian Stang, revealed the statue at a grand event in 2010.

Sandvik Johansen had a long string of awards and accomplishments, among them the Oslo Idrettskrets’ highest award, the Hederspokal. She was also an honorary member of Oslo Idrettslag and winner of the club’s highest honor, the Lørdahl trophy.

She was married to Aage Johansen, former Norwegian champion speed skater, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter, Berit Unn, former Norwegian champion figure skater.

Bergljot Sandvik Johansen was buried at Østre Aker church on Jan. 17, 2020.

Photos courtesy of Michelle Sissener Passaro
Bergliot Sandvik Johansen (left) together with daughter Berit Unn Johansen, an Olympic figure skater.

This article originally appeared in the February 7, 2020, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.