Beginning in 1959 the Oscar Mathisen Award (also known as the Oscar Mathisen Memorial Award, the Oscar Mathisen Memorial Trophy, and sometimes the Skating Oscar) has been awarded annually to the skater with the most outstanding speed skating performance of the season. The award was introduced by Oslo Skøiteklub (Oslo Skating Club, OSK) to commemorate the legendary Norwegian speed skater Oscar Mathisen (1888–1954). The winner is awarded a miniature of the statue of Oscar Mathisen created by the sculptor Arne Durban. The statue is placed outside Frogner Stadium in Oslo, the venue of many of Oscar Mathisen's most memorable victories.
For the first eight years (1959–1966) no repeat winners were allowed, and women were not eligible to win until 1987. Since its inception in 1959 it has been awarded 66 times to 50 skaters (41 men and 9 women) from 10 countries. Eric Heiden from the United States holds the record for most awards (4 times in 1977–1980) while Gunda Niemann from Germany is the only woman who received this award more than once (3 times in 1995–1997).
Oscar Mathisen Award winners
editNumber of awards by country
edit| Awards won | Country |
|---|---|
| 18 |  Netherlands
|
| 15 |  Norway
|
| 11 |  United States
|
| 6 |  Sweden
|
| 5 |  Canada
|
| 4 |  Germany
|
 Soviet Union
| |
| 1 |  Czech Republic
|
 Japan
| |
 Russia
|
Number of awards by person
editReferences
edit- ^ "Skøytesport". www.skoytesport.no. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ^ "Skøytesport". www.skoytesport.no. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ^ "Skøytesport". www.skoytesport.no. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ^ http://www.volkskrant.nl/sport/article1364737.ece/Sablikova_krijgt_eervolle_prijs.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "De Jong krijgt 'schaatsoscar'". nos.nl. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ^ "Nesbitt - winner of the 2012 Oscar Award | Speed Skating Canada". Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
- ^ "Brittany Bowe wins the 2015 Oscar Award". US Speedskating. 20 May 2015. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ Steffes, Judy (4 December 2023). "Jordan Stolz of Kewaskum, WI wins prestigious Oscar Mathisen Award". Washington County Insider. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "Oscar Mathisen-trofee weer voor Jordan Stolz" [Oscar Mathisen trophy again for Jordan Stolz]. schaatsen.nl (in Dutch). 29 May 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.