Jón Halldórsson

As well as competing in sprint events Iceland’s Jón Halldórsson also practised glíma, a traditional form of Icelandic wrestling. Halldórsson ran in the 100 metres at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics but finished in last place in his heat. He was also scheduled to run in the 200 metres but did not start the race due to illness. Glíma was a demonstration sport at the Stockholm Games with Halldórsson competing as a replacement for ill or injured compatriots.

Halldórsson competed for the Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur (ÍR) and was a member of the club’s gymnastics teams at the Ungmennafélag Íslands (UMFÍ) national championships in 1909, 1910, and 1911. Halldórsson’s first recorded time in the 100 metres was 11.6 sec in 1910. At the 1913 Icelandic national sports meet he placed third in the 100 metres. He was chairman of the ÍR for three years, but a total of six years on the board and was made an honorary member in 1931.

Jón Halldórsson’s father, Halldór Jónsson, was the first chief treasurer of Landsbanki Ísland. Jón enrolled in Reykjavík High School in 1903 but dropped out after the first year to join the bank at the age of 15. He worked for the bank until 1917, when he took up the position of Landsféhirðir (national treasurer), which he held until 1932. He then returned to become office manager of Landsbanki. Halldórsson remained in this position until his retirement in 1956 and was also the bank’s chief treasurer in the 1930s.

Halldórsson was even better known for his musical achievements. He came from a musical family, his mother being a cathedral organist in Reykjavik. Already a fine singer in his youth, he became choirmaster of the YMCA Men’s Choir, later the Fóstbræðir Men’s Choir, in 1916, which he led until 1950. With his choirs he recorded several songs that later were re-released on a compilation album. At the 1930 Alþingi Festival, Halldórsson was the principal conductor of the newly established Association of Icelandic Men’s Choirs. For his musical achievements, he was awarded Knight’s Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon.

In 1916, Halldórsson married Sigríður Bogadóttir the first woman to work at Landsbanki Ísland. Their daughter Ragnheiði became a well-known painter but was survived by both of her parents.

Personal Best: 100 – 11.6 (1910).