Politiet etterforsker fortsatt tyveriet av premiesamlingen til Thorleif Haug. -Jeg har akkurat nå satt på en ung racer, sier politioverbetjent Trond Åge Hageland
Skikongens Venner runs a museum in the childhood home of Thorleif Haug in Lier. But it is impossible to run a full-fledged museum – when all the prizes of the cross-country legend have been stolen. Nevertheless, the friends’ association still has a legitimate hope that the police can help them find the stolen prize collection.
By Tore Shetelig, editor of SKIsport magazine
– There is hope in a hanging line. We have not closed the case, the investigation is still ongoing. I have just now hired a young racer as an investigator, police superintendent Trond Åge Hageland in the South-East police district tells SKIsport.
The theft was reported in May 2023. Hageland admits that the police have spent a long time on the case, but says that the investigation plan that has been drawn up will be followed up.
It is the former chairman of Skikongens Venner, Hans Marius Morin, who has been reported for the theft of the prizes. Not just one, but three reviews have been handed in against him from Friends of the Ski King. He has also been reported for fraud against the friends’ association and vandalism at Haugstua, so here there is more than enough to deal with for the police.
SIMPLE CONDITIONS: Here in this living room in Årkvisla, Thorleif Haug grew up – under simple conditions. Haugstua is now a museum, for now without his prize collection. Photo: Tore Shetelig.
THE HEARING IS IN PROGRESS
-Has Morin been questioned?
– Yes, he has been questioned by us at the police station in Drammen. We have also questioned other people. We also have other names for the block. People who are going in to explain themselves, says Trond Åge Hageland.
He is a police investigation manager.
Skikongens Venner writes in its annual report that there is reason to believe that the theft of furniture and museum objects occurred in the period from March 2022 to 25 April 2023.
THREE GOLD IN CHAMONIX
Thorleif Haug made history when in February 1924 he won three golds in Chamonix – in the first ever Winter Olympics. In the prize collection that has disappeared from Haugstua, there are, among other things, two royal trophies. A women’s trophy has also been stolen.
STOLEN: All lubrication and other ski equipment has also been stolen from Haugstua. Photo: Tore Shetelig.
Søkk vekk is also a gold clock, which belonged to Haug. This pocket watch has an estimated value of NOK 15,000.
The same value has an older numbered copy of a gold medal from the Chamonix Olympics. It was bought from a second-hand dealer in Ankara.
LOTS OF EQUIPMENT GONE
Contemporary skis, poles, boots and other ski-related equipment – to create an environment in the museum – have also been stolen. The same is true of Thorleif Haug’s passport and his accreditation to the Olympics.
A collection of bindings in original packaging, bought from a collector at Jar in Bærum, has also disappeared.
– These are objects of high emotional value. It cannot be measured in money, says Bjørn Skare. He left the board at the annual meeting in March.
SKIsport has contacted Marius Morin – to get his view on the matter.
– No comment, because the reports are under investigation by the police, he replies.
No one on the current board of Friends of the Skiking will comment on the case, citing that the police are working on it.
SKIING: On the slopes below Haugstua, there are excellent conditions for skiing fun. Now many school children in Lier will get to experience this. Photo: Tore Shetelig.
GOT A HIKE
Friends of the Ski King got a long-awaited boost right after St. Hans, when they received a grant of NOK 75,000. The application to Erik Jølberg’s foundation was received. The money will be used for activity days for school children from Lierbygda. There will be skiing and other skiing fun on the slopes of Årkvisla, right outside Thorleif Haug’s childhood home. Jølberg is a businessman, and runs the hose company TESS.
Caption :
Thorleif Haug was mega-popular in his day. Active efforts are now being made in his home village, Lier, to keep the memory of the gold wholesaler alive. Photo: Skiking’s Friends.