Axel Paulsen

Axel Paulsen was a legendary figure skater and speed skater from Norway.

He is remembered as a pioneer who changed both how people jump and how they skate fast. Paulsen invented the Axel jump, which is a fundamental move in modern figure skating. He also designed the first modern speed skates. These skates featured a metal blade fixed directly to the boot. His contributions helped shape the technical side of ice sports. Because of his impact, he was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1976.

The Axel jump remains one of the most recognizable moves in skating history. Paulsen first performed this jump in 1882. Interestingly, he performed it while wearing speed skates rather than figure skates. This achievement earned him an extra prize during the World Championships in Vienna. The jump is now named after him to honor his original invention. Today, skaters of all levels study this specific movement to improve their skills.

Paulsen was also a dominant force in the world of speed skating. He held the world title in this sport for eight years. His reign began in 1882 and lasted until 1 February 1890. He lost the title at a three-race meet in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His opponent was a skater named Hugh J. McCormick. During his long period as champion, Paulsen proved his speed on many different types of ice.

In the winter of 1883, Paulsen traveled to North America to compete. He participated in several skating events in the United States. On 8 February 1883, he competed at an open-air rink in Washington Park, Brooklyn, New York. At this event, he defeated 17 highly skilled skaters. These competitors came from Norway, Canada, England, and the United States. Paulsen set three specific records during this race.

His speed in Brooklyn was truly remarkable. He completed the 1-mile race in 3 minutes and 34 3/5 seconds. For the 5-mile race, his time was 19 minutes and 10 seconds. He finished the 10-mile race in 39 minutes and 7 3/5 seconds. These numbers showed his incredible endurance and strength. Such performances helped cement his reputation as a world-class athlete.

Paulsen also competed in major events in Europe. In early 1885, he won both speed skating and figure skating competitions in Hamburg. Later that year, he participated in a famous race at Frognerkilen in Norway. This race took place on 26 February 1885 against Renke van der Zee. It was a massive spectacle that drew between 20,000 and 30,000 spectators. The winner received a prize of 1800 Norwegian krones. Paulsen won the race by a margin of more than one minute.

Beyond his athletic achievements, Paulsen lived a busy life in Norway. He was born in Aker, near what is now Oslo. His father, Johan Peter Paulsen, was a merchant who ran a coffee shop. After his father passed away, Axel took over the family business. He ran the coffee shop alongside his brother, Edvin, until 1936. This shows that his life involved both professional sports and steady business management. He was married twice during his lifetime, first to Kathryn Williams and later to Anna Elise Nicolaisen.