Thor Helland

{{Short description|Norwegian long-distance runner (1936–2021)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Thor Helland

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| fullname = Thor Oluf Helland

| nickname =

| nationality = Norwegian

| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|12|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Sørfold Municipality, Nordland

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|8|2|1936|12|10|df=y}}

| death_place =

| height = 1.78 m

| weight = {{convert|65|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

| country =

| sport =

| event = 5,000 metres

| club =

| pb = 13.37.4 (1965)

| medaltemplates =

}}

Thor Helland (10 December 1936 – 2 August 2021{{Cite web |title=Thor Helland til minne |url=https://www.bul.no/thor-helland-til-minne |website=Bondeungdomslaget i Oslo |language=no}}) was a Norwegian long-distance runner who specialized in the 5000 metres.

Helland was born in Sørfold Municipality in Nordland county, Norway.

At the 1964 Summer Olympics he finished eighth in the 5000m final in 13:57.0 minutes.{{Cite web |title=Norwegian international athletes - H |url=http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/internasjonal/mh.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184715/http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/internasjonal/mh.htm |archive-date=30 September 2007 |language=no}} He became Norwegian champion 12 times in the years 1961 to 1967.{{Citation |last=Bryhn |first=Rolf |title=Thor Helland |date=18 April 2020 |work=Store norske leksikon |url=https://snl.no/Thor_Helland |access-date=5 July 2020 |language=nb}} He represented the club IL i BUL.{{Cite web |title=Norwegian championships in 5000 m |url=http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/nm/m5000.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000404/http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/nm/m5000.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007 |language=no}}

His personal best time was 13:37.4 minutes, achieved in June 1965 in Helsinki.{{Cite web |title=Norwegian all-time list 5000 m |url=http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/at/sen/M5000.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928001600/http://www.friidrett.no/friidrett/statistikk/at/sen/M5000.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007 |language=no}} He held the Norwegian record for 3000m three times, 5000m two times, and 10,000m once.{{Cite web |last=Bryhn |first=Rolf |date=18 April 2020 |title=Thor Helland |url=https://snl.no/Thor_Helland |access-date=5 July 2020 |website=Store norske leksikon |language=nb}} He also held the Nordic record for 5000m and 3000m in 1965.

He and his wife, Unni Helland (a prominent athlete herself) have contributed a great deal to their club IL i BUL as coaches. In 2020 they were still actively training and supporting the new generation of athletes.{{Cite web |title=Arrangøren – BUL {{!}} Asics Sentrumsløpet |url=https://sentrumslopet.no/arrangoren-bul/ |access-date=5 July 2020 |website=Asics Sentrumsløpet |language=nn-NO}}

Thor and Unni Helland lived in Oslo, Norway and have two children together, Ståle (b.1961) and Lasse (b.1963). They also have two granddaughters: Anine (b.1992) and Emilie Josephine (b.1993).