Erling Aastad

During the interwar period Norwegian track and field athlete Erling Aastad was one of the best long jumpers in the country. Aastad won his first national title in the event in 1920 before winning six consecutive titles from 1925 to 1930. He also won silver in 1921, bronze in 1918 and 1924, and silver in the 100 metres in 1925. In August 1925 he broke the Norwegian record in the long jump with 7.45 metres, a record that stood until 1934.

In the 1920s Aastad competed in the long jump at three Olympic Games. At the 1920 Antwerpen Games he finished fifth and was also part of the Norwegian team for the 4 × 100 metres relay. He did not improve on his fifth place in Antwerpen, finishing 13th in Paris in 1924 and 14th in Amsterdam in 1928. After World War II he worked as a manager at the Norwegian Athletics Association from 1945 to 1949 before becoming a member of the elite sports committee.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.9 (1925); LJ – 7.45 (1925).