Note with greatsadness, theinternationalgymnastic family farewell toNorway'sgymnastics legendAgeSTORHAUG. Shortlyafter his74thbirthdayon 5April he died yesterday,the Vice-European Championon vaulthorsein 1957(Antwerp),two-timeOlympian(1960 /'64)and the 14-timesNorwegianchampion leaves alarge,painful void.
"Storhaugembodiesthe gymnasticssports in Norwaylike noother" was the verdict,oncethe Oslo sports-journalistRolf-ArneOdiin. In a countrywhere even theformer King OlavV. was a skiing sportsman himself,itwasnot easyto getspecialattentionas a gymnast.
Between 1957 and 1967 Age Storhaug took part in six European Championships, was in his best year, 1965 in Antwerp, 5th of all-around - and this despite the overwhelming dominance at the time of Soviet athletes he won behind Viktor Lissitzki (URS) silver at the vault and was in this decade, a total of 9 times in continental apparatus finals. Even today people remember in Norway on his hard and consistent type of training.
"He trained like a wolf," said the legend!
With the help of his father and the family he built gym equipment in the loft of a barn in the village of Klepp, about 30 km southeast of Stavanger, and the most suitable as a teenager himself, without a trainer to help.
Then it was realized the talent of junior and took him into the national squad. Twelve times he was Norwegian all-around champion. Every time awarded witha trophy from King Olav V ...
Age Storhaug and King Harald (2009)
Age Storhaug (Hintergrund) and his protege, Espen Jansen, one of the longest running top gymnasts, here last year at the Junior Team Cup in Berlin
After ending his active career Age Storhaug was the Noewegian national coach from 1973 - '83.
His athletes, such as Ivar Loege and Finn Gjertsen made it to the World Championships 1979 (Fort Worth) even in the all-around final.
Superior promotion conditions at that time not enjoying the Norwegian gymnastics.
Age Storhaug then retired and worked as a coach for young talents.
For years, the enthusiastic and warm-hearted man coached children and juniors. Most recently he was with them a regular guest at international tournaments, welcome and popular with the GWG Cup in Cottbus, at the International Junior Team Cup in Berlin, last year.
The fact that he is no longer, leaving a painful gap in the Norwegian gymnastics and in the hearts of his friends around the whole world.
In a video will be remembered in Norway at the career of this former athlete, creative and principled coach and very kind person ...,, * Youtube-Video --:
... to remember Age Storhaug,allthat remainsunforgotten (C) E. Herholz / Gymmedia
