Odd-Willy Martinsen (20 December 1942 â 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 à10 km relay (1968) and silvers in the 30 km (1968) and the 4 à10 km relay (1976). Martinsen won five medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, a gold in the 4 à10 km relay (1966), a silver in the 15 km (1970), and bronzes in the 15 km (1966), 30 km (1970), and 4 à10 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 à10 km relay (1970, 1972âÂÂ1975, 1978). After retiring from competitions he became a skiing official and headed the FIS cross-country committee in 1986âÂÂ2002. 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.
All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).