Odd-Willy Martinsen (20 December 1942 – 27 October 2025) was a Norwegian cross-country skier who competed during the 1960s and 1970s. He won three medals at the Winter Olympics, a gold in the 4 × 10 km relay (1968) and silvers in the 30 km (1968) and the 4 × 10 km relay (1976). Martinsen won five medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, a gold in the 4 × 10 km relay (1966), a silver in the 15 km (1970), and bronzes in the 15 km (1966), 30 km (1970), and 4 × 10 km relay (1974). At the 1969 Holmenkollen ski festival, he won the 15 km race. For his cross-country skiing successes in Norway and abroad, Martinsen received the Holmenkollen medal in 1969. Thirty-two years later, his daughter, Bente Skari, received the Holmenkollen medal, making them the only father-daughter combination to ever win the prestigious honor.

Domestically Martinsen won Norwegian titles in the 15 km (1966, 1970), 30 km (1969, 1971) and 4 × 10 km relay (1970, 1972–1975, 1978). After retiring from competitions he became a skiing official and headed the FIS cross-country committee in 1986–2002. At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, he served as chief of the cross-country skiing competitions. He also founded the ski firm Finor AS, which, as of 2020, is run by his son, Harald.

Martinsen died on 27 October 2025, at the age of 82.Odd Martinsen er død: – Ein markant profil både i Noreg og internasjonalt

Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games 3 medals – (1 gold, 2 silver)  Year   Age   15 km   30 km   50 km  4 × 10 km  relay  1968 25 8 Silver 18 Gold 1976 33 8 9 — Silver

World Championships 5 medals – (1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze)  Year   Age   15 km   30 km   50 km  4 × 10 km  relay  1966 23 Bronze — — Gold 1970 27 SilverBronze — 4 1974 31 33 — —Bronze 1978 35 27 — ——

References

External links

Holmenkollen medalists – click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file Holmenkollen winners since 1892 – click Vinnere for downloadable pdf file Lillehammer 1994 Book 4 results – cross-country skiing section