Sølvi Olsen Meinseth (born 27 March 1967 in

Rykene Rykene or Rygene is a village located along the river Nidelva in Agder county, Norway. The village is primarily located in Arendal municipality, but a small portion of the village lies across the river in the neighboring municipality of Grimstad. ...

) is a retired Norwegian athlete who competed in sprinting events. She is best known for winning two medals at the

1991 Summer Universiade __NOTOC__ The 1991 Summer Universiade, officially known as the XVI Summer Universiade and generally referred to as the World Student Games, were held in Sheffield, England from 14 to 25 July 1991. The Games were the largest sporting event to be ho ...

. In addition, she represented her country at the 1991 World Indoor Championships and 1991 World Championships. As a junior sprinter she competed on European level. At the 1983 European Junior Championships she reached the semi-final of the 100 metres (12.29) and finished seventh in the 4 × 100 metres relay. At the next edition in

1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a n ...

she reached the semi-finals of both the 100 and 200 metres. She also competed in 60 and 200 metres at the 1985 European Indoor Championships, and the 100 and 200 metres at the 1986 European Championships. Only one more international competition in the 1980s followed, the 1989 European Indoor Championships when she did not progress past the heats of the 60 metres. In 1991 she once again reached the semi-final of an international 200 metres competition, but now at the World Indoor Championships ( 24.70 seconds). She also ran 7.48 in the 60 metres, competing in the heats. At the

World Championships A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...

she made her international debut in the 400 metres, placing 16th overall after exiting the semi-finals with a time of 53.63 seconds. The semi final was the third round (as opposite of the second round), and she actually ran faster in the first round, with 52.84 seconds. Olsen also helped running the 4 × 400 metres relay in 3:32.76 minutes. The

Universiade The FISU World University Games, formerly the Universiade, is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The former name is a Blend word, portmanteau of the wor ...

of 1991 became a great success, as she won the 100 metres bronze medal in 11.61 seconds and the 200 metres silver medal in 23.41 seconds. The next year she competed at the 1992 European Indoor Championships, reaching the semi-finals of both the 60 metres ( 7.53) and 200 metres ( 24.16). In her last major international outing in the 400 metres, she reached the semi-finals at the 1994 European Championships. Sølvi Olsen Meinseth became national champion numerous times. She won the 100 metres title in 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993 in addition to five silver medals. She won the 200 metres title in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 in addition to one silver medal. She won five straight 400 metres titles in 1991–1995. She married Frank Otto Meinseth, brother of former football international

Børre Meinseth Børre Meinseth (born 24 November 1966) is a retired Norwegian football defender. He is the uncle of athletes Even Meinseth (1996) and Ingvild Meinseth (1999). He played for Hødd, Bryne, Viking and Heerenveen and was capped 8 times for Norw ...

. Their son Even and daughter Ingvild are both sprinters, and they are both coaches.

Personal bests

Outdoor *

100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at ...

– 11.61 (1991) *

200 metres The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400-metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slight ...

– 23.41 (1991) *

400 metres The 400 metres, or 400-meter dash, is a sprint event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 for men and since 1964 for women. On a standard outdoor running track, it is ...

– 52.45 (Bergen 1991) NR *

4 x 400 metres relay 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is a square number, the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. Evolution of the Hi ...

– 3:32.76 (Tokyo 1991) NR * Swedish relay – 2:06.92 (Portsmouth 1993) NR Indoor *

60 metres 60 metres, or 60-meter dash, is a sprint event in track and field. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At indoor events, the 60 metres is run on lanes set out in the mi ...

– 7.45 (Luleå 1991), former NR *

– 23.84 (Genoa 1992)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen Meinseth, Solvi 1967 births Living people Sportspeople from Arendal Norwegian female sprinters Norwegian athletics coaches Female sports coaches World Athletics Championships athletes for Norway Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field) FISU World University Games silver medalists for Norway FISU World University Games bronze medalists for Norway 20th-century Norwegian sportswomen