Career
She was one of the pioneers in Norwegian as well as international speed skating for women. The record on the 500 m (464) lasted until 1955, when Tamara Rylova of the Soviet Union beat it at the Medeo track in Alma Ata. Her record on 1,500 m lasted until 1950.
After the World World War II Laila Schou Nilsen competed in alpine skiing at the 1948 Winter Olympics in Saint Moritz, where she finished 7th in downhill and 14th in slalom.