Sunday, December 22, 2013

Sochi 2014: The Countdown Series: Norway

47 days remaining until the opening ceremonies (46 until the first day of competition) at Sochi 2014. Up next on the countdown: Norway.


Norway made their winter Olympics debut at Chamonix 1924, and has since appeared at every winter games. The Norwegian contingent won 303 medals in the winter games, including 107 gold medals.


Perhaps the most decorated winter Olympics athlete is Norwegian Bjorn Daehlie (pictured). Daehlie won eight gold medals, all in cross country events. He won the 50km event at Albertville 1992 and Nagano 1998. He also won the 10/15km pursuit event at Albertville as well as Lillehammer 1994. He was a member of the 4x10km relay team that won gold at Albertville as well as Nagano. He also won the 50km at Lillehammer and Nagano. His 12 medals are the most among winter games athletes.


Biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen (pictured) won six gold medals in the winter games. He won the 10km sprint at Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002. He also won the 12.5km sprint and 20km events at Salt Lake City. He also was a member of the 4x7.5km relay team that won gold at Salt Lake City as well as Vancouver 2010.


Another cross country skier, Thomas Alsgaard (pictured, left), won five gold medals in the winter games. He won the 30km event at Lillehammer 1994. He followed up with wins in the 10/15km pursuit at Nagano 1998, as a member of the 4x10km relay team at Nagano and Salt Lake City 2002, and in the 10/10km pursuit event at Salt Lake City.

Three Norwegians won four gold medals in the winter games. Ivar Ballangrud was the first, as the speed skater won the 500m at Garmisch Partenkirchen 1936, the 5000m at St. Moritz 1928 and Garmisch Partenkirchen, and the 10,000m, also at Garmisch Partenkirchen. The great Johann Olav Koss won four golds in the winter games. He won the 1500m at Albertville 1992, followed by three gold wins at Lillehammer 1994--in the 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m events. Kjetil Aamodt also won four gold medals, as the skier won the super G at Albertville 1992, Salt Lake City 2002 and Turin 2006, and in the combined at Salt Lake City.

Seven Norwegians have won three gold medals in the winter games:
  • Thorleif Haug, cross country, men, 18km and 50km, and Nordic combined, men, individual, Chamonix 1924
  • Johan Grottumsbraaten, cross country, men, 18km, St. Moritz 1928, and Nordic combined, men, individual, St. Moritz 1928 and Lake Placid 1932
  • Sonja Henie, figure skating, women, singles, St. Moritz 1928, Lake Placid 1932 and Garmisch Partenkirchen 1936
  • Hjalmar Andersen, speed skating, men, 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m, Oslo 1952
  • Vegard Ulvang, cross country, men, 10km, 30km and 4x10km relay team member, Albertville 1992
  • Halvard Hanevold, biathlon, men, 20km, Nagano 1998 and 4x7.5km relay team member, Salt Lake City 2002 and Vancouver 2010
  • Marit Bjorgen, cross country, women, sprint, 15km, skiathlon, 4x5km relay team member, Vancouver 2010
These following Norwegians won two gold medals in the winter games:
  • Birger Ruud, ski jump, men, normal hill, individual, Lake Placid 1932 and Garmisch Partenkirchen 1936
  • Hallgeir Branden, cross country, men, 18km, Oslo 1952 and 15km, Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956
  • Knut Johannesen, speed skating, men, 10,000m, Squaw Valley 1960 and 5000m, Innsbruck 1964
  • Ole Ellefsaeter, cross country, men, 50km and part of 4x10km relay team, Grenoble 1968
  • Harald Gromingen, cross country, men, 15km and part of 4x10km relay team, Grenoble 1968
  • Magnar Solberg, biathlon, men, 20km, Grenoble 1968 and Sapporo 1972
  • Pal Tyldum, cross country, men, 4x10km relay member, Grenoble 1968 and 50km, Sapporo 1972
  • Kristen Skjeldal, cross country, men, 4x10km relay team member, Albertville 1992 and Salt Lake City 2002
  • Fred Borre Lundberg, Nordic combined, men, individual, Lillehammer 1994 and team, Nagano 1998
  • Bjarte Ergen Vik, Nordic combined, men, team and individual, Nagano 1998
  • Frode Estil, cross country, men, 10/10km pursuit and member of 4x10km relay team, Salt Lake City 2002
  • Petter Northug, cross country, men, 50km and team sprint, Vancouver 2010
  • Emil Hegle Svendsen, biathlon, male, 20km and 4x7.5km relay team member, Vancouver 2010
For Sochi, 40 competitors will be there, including men's ice hockey, men's curling, speed skating, Nordic combined, Cross country and biathlon among others.

Norway was the host country for two winter games: Oslo 1952 and Lillehammer 1994.

Up next: Pakistan

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