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Art Longsjo

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Art Longsjo
Personal information
Born(1931-10-23)October 23, 1931
Fitchburg, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedSeptember 16, 1958(1958-09-16) (aged 26)
Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Sport
Country United States
SportSpeed skating
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals1956 Winter Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics

Arthur "Art" Matthew Longsjo Jr. (October 23, 1931 – September 16, 1958) was an American Olympian speed skater and cyclist. He was the first American to compete in the Summer and Winter Olympics in the same year.

Biography

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Memorial marker for Arthur Longsjo in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

Longsjo was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.[1] In 1953, he won the 1 mile, 3 mile, and 25 mile races at the Massachusetts State Cycling Championships after riding his bicycle 1.5 hours to the race (from Fitchburg to Westborough, Massachusetts). In 1954, he won the Quebec-Montreal Road Race and was named the Canadian Cyclist of the Year.[2] He won the race again in 1956.

Longsjo won the 5,000 m speed skating event at the United States national championships to make the Olympic team at the Winter Olympics. In 1956, he competed in both the Winter Olympics as a speed skater and the Summer Olympics as a cyclist. Due to a knee injury before the games, he placed outside the medal stand. Longsjo was the first American to compete in both the Winter and Summer Olympics in the same year.[3][4]

In 1958 Longsjo won three races, the Tour of Somerville,[5] the Tour du St. Laurent stage race and the Quebec-Montreal Road Race.[6]

Longsjo died in 1958 following a car accident in Burlington, Vermont. He had been returning from the Quebec-Montreal Road Race.[7]

Awards and honors

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In 1960 the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic was held in Fitchburg in memory of Longsjo. The race was a road bicycle racing stage race that was held annually until 2019.[8][9] On March 18, 2020, event organizers announced that the event was being retired.[10]

Longsjo was inducted into the National Speedskating Hall of Fame in 1970,[11] and the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1988.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "SALUTE TO WOMEN: Erika Lawler". Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise. July 31, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  2. ^ "Art Longsjo, Jr". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  3. ^ Fitchburg Historical Society (2014). Legendary Locals of Fitchburg (illustrated ed.). Arcadia Publishing. p. 96. ISBN 978-1467101103. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  4. ^ Harrison, Dann (August 27, 2009). "Peddling past the competition; Danvers' Wilochoski parlays big cycling win into professional status". The Salem News. Karen Andreas. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  5. ^ "Fitchburg Longsjo Classic registration on a roll". Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  6. ^ "OLYMPIANS". News Telegram.com. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  7. ^ "Longsjo Classic organizers: Let's make it 3 day". Sentinel Enterprise. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  8. ^ "Cycling: Longsjo Classic seeks site for a Saturday event". telegram.com. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  9. ^ "Arthur Longsjo: A two-sport athlete for the ages". Active. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  10. ^ "Longsjo Classic won't roll out again". Sentinel and Enterprise. March 18, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "Arthur M. Longsjo". News Telegram.com. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  12. ^ "Art Longsjo". US Bicycling Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
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