Símon Ólafsson (born 15 July 1956) is an Icelandic former

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

player and a former member of Icelandic national team. He won the Icelandic championship in 1976 and the Icelandic Cup 1975 and 1982. In 1981, he was named the Icelandic Basketball Player of the Year. In 2001, Símon was named as one of the twelve best Icelandic men's basketball players of the 20th century.

Playing career

Símon started his career with Ármann in 1973 at the age of 17. In 1975, Símon enrolled in

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...

where he also trained basketball. On 3 January 1976, he played again with Ármann in a 90-89 victory against ÍR, scoring a game high 33 points. After the game, ÍR filed an official complaint, claiming that Símon was not a legal player for Ármann in the game as he was training with a college team in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. Símon and Ármann fought back, claiming that Símon was not an official player for Cornell, as first year students where not allowed on the main squad and that no paperwork had been filed regarding his transfer from Ármann. In 1977, Símon transferred over to rival Reykjavík club

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. In 1979, he won the 1. deild karla with the club. In 1982, he helped the club to victory in the Icelandic Basketball Cup, scoring 16 points in the Cup finals victory against KR. He retired following the 1992–1993 season.

Icelandic national team

Símon played 89 games for the Icelandic national team from 1976 to 1986.

Awards and accomplishments

Titles

* Icelandic champion: 1976 * Icelandic Cup (2): 1975, 1982 * 1. deild karla (3): 1979, 1981, 1986

Individual awards

* Icelandic basketball team of the 20th century * Icelandic Basketball Player of the Year: 1981

References

External links

Úrvalsdeild statistics 1979-1993
at kki.is {{DEFAULTSORT:Olafsson, Simon 1956 births Living people Centers (basketball) Simon Olafsson Simon Olafsson Icelandic expatriate basketball people in the United States Simon Olafsson Simon Olafsson Simon Olafsson Simon Olafsson