Julius Skutnabb

Who was Julius Skutnabb?

Julius Ferninand Skutnabb was a Finnish speed skater who won several Olympic medals. He was born in Helsinki and died there as well.

Julius Skutnabb, a fireman, made his international debut at the World Allround Championships in 1914, but his promising career on an international level was promptly interrupted by World War I. He kept skating on a national level, though, becoming Finnish Allround Champion in 1914, 1916, and 1917. International competition resumed in 1922 and Skutnabb, already 32 years old, finished fifth at the World Allround Championships that year. After finishing sixth in those championships the following year, his best year came in 1924.

At the 1924 Winter Olympics of Chamonix, he first won silver on the 5,000 m behind compatriot Clas Thunberg and the next day, he became Olympic Champion on the 10,000 m, while Thunberg took silver. Since these were the first Winter Olympics to be held, his 10,000 m time automatically was the Olympic record. These performances, combined with his 500 m and 1,500 m times during those Olympics, were good enough for a third place in the allround competition, and Skutnabb returned home with three medals – one of each colour.