Valbjörn Thorlaksson (Icelandic name: Valbjörn Þorláksson) (9 June 1934 – 3 December 2009) was an Icelandic

track and field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping eve ...

athlete who competed in the decathlon and

pole vault Pole vaulting, also known as pole jumping, is a track and field event in which an athlete uses a long and flexible pole, usually made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, as an aid to jump over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the Myc ...

in the

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Jan ...

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarc ...

, and

1968 The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide. Events January–February * January 5 – " Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. * Janu ...

Summer

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a vari ...

Career

Thorlaksson's best Olympic result was in 1964; he finished 12th in the decathlon. He finished 26th in the same event in 1968. Thorlaksson had only modest success in open competition, but enjoyed some success in master's track meets, competing at least into the early 1980s. At one time, he held the unofficial 42 inch hurdles record for men over 45 years of age with a time of 15.1.

Died

Thorlaksson died on 3 December 2009.

External links

Valbjörn Þorláksson's profile at Sports Reference.com

Valbjörn Thorlaksson's obituary
1934 births 2009 deaths Valbjorn Thorlaksson Valbjorn Thorlaksson Valbjorn Thorlaksson Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1964 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1968 Summer Olympics {{Iceland-athletics-bio-stub