*12-12-1946 † 9-1-2014
On the 9th of January 2014 my very good friend Thor E. Kleppe passed away.
Thor and Bente Grønli started in wheelchair dance competition (combi) already in 1977 and during the Paralympic Wintergames in Geilo, (Norway, 1980) they won a demonstration competition. In those years they were successful dancers in different competitions in Scandinavia. In Norway Wheelchair Dance was accepted as sport in 1979.
In 1982, during the yearly Oslo Open competition, Gertrude Krombholz (Germany), Corrie van Hugten and myself were visitors. There we met Bente, Thor, Anne Jensrud *) and also Elsbritt and Håkon Freijd from Sweden.
In 1983 Gertrude Krombholz organized the München Rock German Championships Rock’n Roll. Bente and Thor became 3rd. One of the German competitors there was Markus Zimmer. In 1984 the European Championships Rock ‘Roll were organised in Munich (G) and Thor and Bente became 7th.
In 1990, when wheelchair dance was organised in the ISOD (International Sport Organisation for Disabled), Markus Zimmer (medical doctor), Thor Kleppe (nurse) and I (physiotherapist) were the first classifiers, working with the system which Markus developed. Together we started to educate classifiers in other countries.
Thor and Bente were both in professional life and as volunteer active in sport organizations and in the development of equipment for disabled. Bente died on the 20th of January 1996 of cancer.
Beside in wheelchair dance, Thor was active in Ice Sledge Hockey. Many years he was chairperson of the IPC Sport technical Committee for that sport.
Because of his experience as dancer, classifier, organizer and manufacturer Thor had an amazing knowledge of many aspects of sport for disabled. I have learned a lot from this sympathetic man. His engaging way of working was an example for many.
The last years his health prevented him from being very active as classifier, and the other classifiers missed him, as a person, but also because of his outstanding and long experience. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work together with him at many international competitions and events. I will cherish the many good memories.
