Overview
Per Jorsett (11 May 1920 – 30 January 2019) was a Norwegian freelance sports reporter, sports historian and sports shooter. Over a career that stretched more than four decades he became one of Norway's best known voices and writers on sport, combining live reporting, historical research and popular books for a wide readership.
Career and roles
Jorsett began reporting in the immediate post‑war years. He wrote for the sports magazine Sportsmanden from 1945 to 1961 and later contributed to national newspapers such as Dagbladet and Nationen. For the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) he worked on commission from 1947 until 1991, covering championships, annual events and a broad range of winter and summer sports.
Writings and historical work
As a sports historian and author, Jorsett produced reference works and accessible books that documented Norwegian participation in international events. He wrote extensively about athletics and winter sports and published several works on the modern Olympic Games; readers looking for more on those titles can find references in collections of his publications, including his books on the Olympic Games (see publications list).
Sporting practice and approach
Alongside journalism, Jorsett was active as a sports shooter, which informed his reporting on precision sports. He was respected for an evenhanded style, attention to facts and ability to explain rules and context to a general audience. His output combined live reporting, season reviews and historical surveys used by both enthusiasts and researchers.
Legacy and death
His writings continue to be cited in histories of Norwegian sport and his broadcasts remain part of the nation's post‑war sporting memory. Per Jorsett died in Oslo on 30 January 2019 from cardiopulmonary arrest, aged 98. He is remembered for bridging reporting and scholarship and for making sports history accessible to the public.