Odd Harsheim (20 July 1924 – 21 June 1994) was a Norwegian goldsmith, military officer, multi-sportsperson and sports official. As a sportsman he was best known for his profess in sailing. In the 5.5 Metre event at the

1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...

he was a crew for Peder Lunde in the boat ''Viking''. They finished fifth. In the 5.5 Metre event at the

1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ( it, Giochi della XVII Olimpiade) and commonly known as Rome 1960 ( it, Roma 1960), were an international multi-sport event held ...

he was a crew for

Finn Ferner Finn Christian FernerProfile (with full name)
geni.com; accessed 19 December 2015.

in the boat ''Struten''. They finished seventh. Harsheim represented the

Royal Norwegian Yacht Club The Royal Norwegian Yacht Club ( no, Kongelig Norsk Seilforening, KNS) is a yacht club in Oslo, Norway. The club was founded in 1883 as country-wide organisation with affiliated local yacht clubs. In 1884, it was granted the right for members ...

. He also competed on a national level in

orienteering Orienteering is a group of sports that require navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain whilst moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a s ...

, biathlon, Nordic combined and ski jumping. He won the Ladies' Cup at the

Holmenkollen Ski Festival The Holmenkollen Ski Festival ( no, Holmenkollen skifestival or ) is a traditional annual Nordic skiing event in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The full official name of the event is Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic. History It takes place in March ...

in 1946. For many years past his active age he was active in the

Association for the Promotion of Skiing The Association for the Promotion of Skiing ( no, Foreningen til Ski-idrettens Fremme, or Skiforeningen) is a large association in Norway promoting Nordic skiing and other outdoor recreational activities. Skiforeningen was founded in 1883 and has ...

. He chaired the organizational committee for the Holmenkollen Ski Festival from 1959 to 1961, having previously led the ski jumping contest since 1956. He was a council member of the Association for the Promotion of Skiing until 1986. He was admitted to the exclusive social club for skiers,

SK Ull SK may refer to: Businesses and organizations * SK Foods, an American agribusiness company * SK Hand Tools, an American tool manufacturer * Sangguniang Kabataan, Philippines youth councils * SK Group, South Korean conglomerate * Scandinavian Airli ...

, in 1983. He served as the club's chairman from 1992 until his death in 1994. He studied in the United States, and worked as a goldsmith in the family company Lars Harsheim. He also became involved in the military, starting during the Second World War. He joined

Milorg Milorg (abbreviation of militær organisasjon – military organization) was the main Norwegian resistance movement during World War II. Resistance work included intelligence gathering, sabotage, supply-missions, raids, espionage, transport of ...

in the

Norwegian resistance The Norwegian resistance (Norwegian: ''Motstandsbevegelsen'') to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms: *Asserting the legitimacy of the exiled government, ...

to the

German occupation German-occupied Europe refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly occupied and civil-occupied (including puppet governments) by the military forces and the government of Nazi Germany at various times between 1939 an ...

, and was imprisoned in Grini concentration camp from 15 May to 1 July 1942. He was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940–1945. After the war he became a conscript officer in the

Norwegian Home Guard The Norwegian Home Guard ( no, Heimevernet – "HV") is the rapid mobilisation force within the Norwegian armed forces. Its main focus is local defense and civil support, but it can also detach volunteers for international operations. Its main ta ...

, and in 1963 he became the first leader of the Skier Company ( no, Skiløperkompaniet) in the home guard district HV-02, and remained so until 1978. He was also a board member of the Norwegian Conscript Officers' Federation.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harsheim, Odd 1924 births 1994 deaths Grini concentration camp survivors Norwegian expatriates in the United States Norwegian goldsmiths Norwegian Army personnel Norwegian male orienteers Norwegian resistance members Norwegian male ski jumpers Norwegian male Nordic combined skiers Norwegian male biathletes Norwegian male sailors (sport) Olympic sailors for Norway Sailors at the 1956 Summer Olympics – 5.5 Metre Sailors at the 1960 Summer Olympics – 5.5 Metre Norwegian sports executives and administrators SK Ull members 20th-century Norwegian people Royal Norwegian Yacht Club sailors