The firefighter made his debut at the all-round world championships in 1914. His promising career was interrupted by the First World War and he was only able to collect titles on a national level. Skutnabb was Finnish all-round champion in 1914, 1916 and 1917. In 1922 the world championships were resumed and he finished fifth in 1922 at the age of almost 32 and sixth in 1923.
Julius_Skutnabb 1924 in Chamonix
His best year in speed skating was 1924. At the Olympic Games in Chamonix , he was Olympic champion in speed skating. After winning the silver medal over 5,000 meters behind Clas Thunberg , he became Olympic champion over 10,000 meters the next day, this time ahead of Clas Thunberg, who won silver. In the first and only all-around competition at the Olympic Games in 1924, he won the bronze medal.
At the age of 38, he won another silver over 5,000 meters at the Olympic Games in St. Moritz in 1928 .