Farewell to Martin Fagna

Martin Håkon Fagna, grand old man in Norwegian Master Speedskating, died on Monday , June 14th 2021, aged 89.

I write these words because Martin was a devoted participant in most Masters Games and Norwegian Masters Championships during the period I was Norwegian representative in IMSSC. He participated for the first time during the Allround Games in Berlin in 2000 in the AG 65, and for the last time during the Sprint Games in Astana in 2014 in AG 80. He participated in the Sprint Games 5 times and became champion all five times, in AG 75 and 80. He participated in the Allround Games 11 times. He became champion 4 times in AG 75 and 80, but he also achieved many other good placings.

In addition, Martin won many Norwegian championships. Furthermore he managed to set a number of IMSSC Records and Norwegian Master Records, but all of these have probably later been surpassed.

Martin Fagna also had a long and versatile «career» on the ice rink before he became a Master. As I wrote, Martin particiated everywhere, but he was not a dominant person and liked to keep to himself a little. I was at his house a couple of times, and I was then offered honey from his own production. His fridge was full of it. Maybe honey was his secret to staying healthy and strong even in old age? It is a good effort in itself to travel from Norway to such distant places as Salt Lake City and Astana (now Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan) at the age of 81 and 82!

For what I can see from Norwegian statistics he did his last race on Valle Hovin, Oslo, at the age of 85!

Martin Håkon Fagna must be said to be one of the real masters in Norwegian veteran skating. We honor his memory! The funeral took place in Oslo Friday June 25.

Sven-Åge Svensson