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Bjørn Dæhlie
Bjørn Dæhlie 2011-01-26 001 (cropped).jpg
Bjørn Dæhlie in January 2011
Country  Norway
Full name Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie
Born (1967-06-19) 19 June 1967 (age 57)
Elverum, Norway
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Ski club Nannestad IL
World Cup career
Seasons 11 – (1989–1999)
Individual wins 46
Team wins 16
Indiv. podiums 81
Team podiums 27
Indiv. starts 127
Overall titles 6 – (1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999)
Discipline titles 2 – (2 SP)
Medal record
Men's cross-country skiing
Representing  Norway
Olympic Games
Gold 1992 Albertville 10 km + 15 km
combined pursuit
Gold 1992 Albertville 50 km freestyle
Gold 1992 Albertville 4 × 10 km relay
Gold 1994 Lillehammer 10 km classical
Gold 1994 Lillehammer 10 km + 15 km
combined pursuit
Gold 1998 Nagano 10 km classical
Gold 1998 Nagano 50 km freestyle
Gold 1998 Nagano 4 × 10 km relay
Silver 1992 Albertville 30 km classical
Silver 1994 Lillehammer 30 km freestyle
Silver 1994 Lillehammer 4 × 10 km relay
Silver 1998 Nagano 10 km + 15 km
combined pursuit
World Championships
Gold 1991 Val di Fiemme 15 km freestyle
Gold 1991 Val di Fiemme 4 × 10 km relay
Gold 1993 Falun 30 km classical
Gold 1993 Falun 10 km + 15 km
combined pursuit
Gold 1993 Falun 4 × 10 km relay
Gold 1995 Thunder Bay 4 × 10 km relay
Gold 1997 Trondheim 10 km classical
Gold 1997 Trondheim 10 km + 15 km
combined pursuit
Gold 1997 Trondheim 4 × 10 km relay
Silver 1995 Thunder Bay 10 km classical
Silver 1995 Thunder Bay 30 km classical
Silver 1995 Thunder Bay 50 km freestyle
Silver 1997 Trondheim 30 km freestyle
Silver 1999 Ramsau 4 × 10 km relay
Bronze 1993 Falun 50 km freestyle
Bronze 1997 Trondheim 50 km classical
Bronze 1999 Ramsau 30 km freestyle

Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie (born 19 June 1967) is a Norwegian businessman and retired cross-country skier. From 1992 to 1999, Dæhlie won the Nordic World Cup six times, finishing second in 1994 and 1998. Dæhlie won a total of 29 medals in the Olympics and World Championships between 1991 and 1999, making him the most successful male cross-country skier in history.

During his career, Dæhlie measured a VO2 max of 96 ml/kg/min. Dæhlie's result was achieved out of season, and physiologist Erlend Hem who was responsible for the testing stated that he would not discount the possibility of the skier passing 100 ml/kg/min at his absolute peak.

Since retiring, Dæhlie has become a successful businessman in real estate and fashion. His real estate investments have produced a fortune of more than half a billion kroner.

Early life and career

Born in Elverum, Norway, Dæhlie later moved to Nannestad, where he settled down. Dæhlie attributes much of his success in sports to his upbringing where he was active in hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, football and, of course, skiing from a very early age. For much of his childhood Dæhlie wanted to be a football player, but after being prompted by a coach, he tried Nordic skiing. Dæhlie did not have immediate success as a junior racer, but he consistently improved and eventually qualified for the FIS World Cup competitions.

In 2018 he claimed that his family comes from Alvdal; the claim was made while answering the public during a meeting prior to getting municipal recommendation in regard to building what media calls "his Coop store" - a store in the chain Coop.

Athletic career

Dæhlie was first on the Norwegian skiing team for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. However, he did not participate in any races and was there to learn from more senior skiers. He later claimed these Olympics were the turning point for Norwegian skiing before their following period of success. He made his debut in the World Cup in January 1989, finishing 11th on the 15 km freestyle in Kavgolovo. In December of the same year, he won his first World Cup race. He finished first on the 15 km freestyle, the first World Cup race of the season.

In the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1991 in Val di Fiemme, Dæhlie won his first World Championship gold medal. He beat skiing legend Gunde Svan on the 15 km freestyle. The medal was unexpected, since Dæhlie was young and still largely unknown. It was Norway's first individual male gold medal in the World Championships since Oddvar Brå won gold in the same race in Oslo in 1982. Dæhlie also skied the last leg on the winning 4 × 10 km relay team.

In 1992, Dæhlie's period of dominance started. He won the World Cup overall for the first time, a feat he would accomplish five more times in the next seven years. In Albertville, Dæhlie won his first Olympic medals. He won gold in 10/15 km freestyle pursuit, 50 km freestyle and was on the winning team for the 4 × 10 km relay. He won a silver in 30 km classical style. Dæhlie also finished fourth on the 10 km freestyle, where his teammate Vegard Ulvang won the gold. Dæhlie completed the fourth leg of the relay, and crossed the finishing line backwards, having won by a margin of over one and a half minutes. Dæhlie and Ulvang completed a clean sweep of the cross-country skiing gold medals, each winning three golds and a silver. Dæhlie was awarded Fearnley's Olympic Prize for his performance, a prize given to the best performing Norwegian athlete in the Olympics.

In the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, Dæhlie won gold in the 10 km classical style and the 15 km freestyle pursuit. He won silver in the 30 km freestyle, where he was beaten by his compatriot Thomas Alsgaard. The 4 × 10 km relay was a very tight race between Norway and Italy. The Italians won the gold after Silvio Fauner beat Dæhlie on the sprint on the last leg. In later years, Thomas Alsgaard took over the fourth leg on the Norwegian relay team with Dæhlie skiing the third leg, since Alsgaard was the better sprinter.

The 1997 Skiing World Championships were Dæhlie's most successful World Championships. In front of the home crowd in Trondheim, he won a medal in every race, taking gold in the 10 km classical race, the 10+15 km combined pursuit and the 4 × 10 km relay. In addition he won a silver in the 30 km freestyle and bronze in the 50 km classical. Dæhlie said the championships were like "Lillehammer all over again" and that "For me, it's very special to compete in Norway".

Dæhlie won three golds and one silver in his last Olympics in Nagano. He won the 10 km classical style, the 50 km freestyle and the 4 × 10 km skiing relay. In the 15 km freestyle pursuit, he got a silver medal having been beaten by Thomas Alsgaard on the sprint. Dæhlie won the 50 km freestyle ahead of Niklas Jonsson by only eight seconds. Both skiers collapsed on the finishing line, having given everything in pursuit of victory. Dæhlie described the race as his hardest ever. Dæhlie also formed a lasting friendship with Phillip Boit, the Kenyan skier. Dæhlie waited for Boit on the finish line for 20 minutes following the 10 km race, saying Boit deserved encouragement. Philip went on to name one of his children Dæhlie Boit.

Dæhlie was planning to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, but he was prevented from participating by a career-ending roller skiing accident in August 1999. The resulting back injury prevented Dæhlie from adding more medals to his collection. He retired from the sport in March 2001, having tried extensive rehabilitation and surgery to come back. His decision to retire shocked the nation of Norway, where Dæhlie was idolized for his great winning record.

Dæhlie's eight Olympic titles are a record for the Winter Olympics, as are his total of 12 Olympic medals (he also won four silver medals) which he amassed in three Olympics (Albertville, Lillehammer and Nagano). In addition to his achievements at the Olympics he had great success in the World Championships where he won 17 medals of which nine were gold medals. He was particularly successful in the Trondheim 1997 World Championships, where he earned medals in all five events. Despite his unanticipated early exit from the sport, Dæhlie is considered by many to be one of the greatest Winter Olympic athletes of all time. In his illustrious career, Dæhlie never won a race at the Holmenkollen ski festival, but he was still awarded the Holmenkollen medal in 1997 (shared with Bjarte Engen Vik and Stefania Belmondo).

He supports non-profit organisations that work for causes such as multiple sclerosis. In 2009 Dæhlie raced in the American Birkebeiner as a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis. Dæhlie competed in the classic race, which is 54 km long, finishing second in a photo finish.

In 2011, Dæhlie won the downhill event in the Kicksled World Championships in Hurdal. Also in 2011, Dæhlie announced a comeback, stating his intention to participate in long-distance races like Marcialonga and Vasaloppet

Dæhlie also participated in long-distance running in his youth, representing Ullensaker/Kisa IL. He participated in the Nordic junior match versus Denmark/Iceland, Finland and Sweden in 1987.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games

  • 12 medals – (8 gold, 4 silver)
 Year   Age   10 km   Pursuit   15 km   30 km   50 km   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1988 20 N/A N/A
1992 24 4 Gold N/A Silver Gold Gold
1994 26 Gold Gold N/A Silver 4 Silver
1998 30 Gold Silver N/A 20 Gold Gold

World Championships

  • 17 medals – (9 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze)
 Year   Age   10 km   15 km 
 classical 
 15 km 
 freestyle 
 Pursuit   30 km   50 km   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1989 21 N/A 20 N/A 12
1991 23 9 N/A Gold N/A 4 Gold
1993 25 4 N/A N/A Gold Gold Bronze Gold
1995 27 Silver N/A N/A 5 Silver Silver Gold
1997 29 Gold N/A N/A Gold Silver Bronze Gold
1999 31 5 N/A N/A 6 Bronze Silver

World Cup

Season titles

  • 8 titles – (6 overall, 2 sprint)
FIS Crystal Globe.svg Season
Discipline
1992 Overall
1993 Overall
1995 Overall
1996 Overall
1997 Overall
Sprint
1999 Overall
Sprint

Season standings

 Season   Age  Overall Long Distance Sprint
1989 21 14 N/A N/A
1990 22 3 N/A N/A
1991 23 3 N/A N/A
1992 24 1 N/A N/A
1993 25 1 N/A N/A
1994 26 2 N/A N/A
1995 27 1 N/A N/A
1996 28 1 N/A N/A
1997 29 1 2 1
1998 30 2 2 2
1999 31 1 2 1

Individual podiums

  • 46 victories
  • 81 podiums
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place
1 1989–90 9 December 1989 United States Soldier Hollow, United States 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
2 16 December 1989 Canada Canmore, Canada 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
3 17 February 1990 Switzerland Campra, Switzerland 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
4 21 February 1990 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 30 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
5 3 March 1990 Finland Lahti, Finland 15 km + 15 km Pursuit F/C World Cup 1st
6  1990–91  5 January 1991 Soviet Union Minsk, Soviet Union 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
7 9 January 1991 Czechoslovakia Štrbské Pleso, Czechoslovakia 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
8 9 February 1991 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 15 km Individual F World Championships 1st
9  1991–92  7 December 1991 Canada Silver Star, Canada 15 km Pursuit C World Cup 2nd
10 14 December 1991 Canada Thunder Bay, Canada 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
11 4 January 1992 Russia Kavgolovo, Russia 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
12 11 January 1992 Italy Cogne, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
13 10 February 1992 France Albertville, France 30 km Individual C Olympic Games 2nd
14 15 February 1992 15 km Pursuit F Olympic Games 1st
15 22 February 1992 50 km Individual F Olympic Games 1st
16 29 February 1992 Finland Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
17 7 March 1992 Sweden Funäsdalen, Sweden 30 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
18 1992–93 13 December 1992 Austria Ramsau, Austria 15 km Pursuit C World Cup 1st
19 3 January 1993 Russia Kavgolovo, Russia 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
20 9 January 1993 Switzerland Ulrichen, Switzerland 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
21 16 January 1993 Slovenia Bohinj, Slovenia 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
22 20 February 1993 Sweden Falun, Sweden 30 km Individual C World Championships 1st
23 24 February 1993 15 km Pursuit F World Championships 1st
24 28 February 1993 50 km Individual F World Championships 3rd
25 19 March 1993 Slovakia Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
26 1993–94 18 December 1993 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
27 22 December 1993 Italy Toblach, Italy 15 km Pursuit F World Cup 3rd
28 9 January 1994 Russia Kavgolovo, Russia 15 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
29 15 January 1994 Norway Oslo, Norway 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
30 14 February 1994 Norway Lillehammer, Norway 30 km Individual F Olympic Games 2nd
31 17 February 1994 10 km Individual C Olympic Games 1st
32 19 February 1994 15 km Pursuit F Olympic Games 1st
33 5 March 1994 Finland Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
34 1994–95 27 November 1994 Sweden Kiruna, Sweden 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
35 14 December 1994 Austria Tauplitzalm, Austria 15 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
36 17 December 1994 Italy Sappada, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
37 8 January 1995 Sweden Östersund, Sweden 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
38 27 January 1995 Finland Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
39 29 January 1995 15 km Pursuit C World Cup 3rd
40 4 February 1995 Sweden Falun, Sweden 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
41 9 March 1995 Canada Thunder Bay, Canada 30 km Individual C World Championships 2nd
42 11 March 1995 10 km Individual C World Championships 2nd
43 19 March 1995 50 km Individual F World Championships 2nd
44 25 March 1995 Japan Sapporo, Japan 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
45  1995–96  26 November 1995 Finland Vuokatti, Finland 10 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
46 29 November 1995 Sweden Gällivare, Sweden 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st
47 9 December 1995 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
48 13 December 1995 Italy Brusson, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
49 16 December 1995 Italy Santa Caterina, Italy 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
50 17 December 1995 15 km Pursuit F World Cup 1st
51 9 January 1996 Slovakia Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia 50 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
52 2 February 1996 Austria Seefeld, Austria 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st
53 10 February 1996 Russia Kavgolovo, Russia 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
54 24 February 1996 Norway Trondheim, Norway 30 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
55 3 March 1996 Finland Lahti, Finland 30 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
56 9 March 1996 Sweden Falun, Sweden 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
57 1996–97 23 November 1996 Sweden Kiruna, Sweden 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st
58 14 December 1996 Italy Brusson, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
59 18 December 1996 Germany Oberstdorf, Germany 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
60 21 February 1997 Norway Trondheim, Norway 30 km Individual F World Championships 2nd
61 24 February 1997 10 km Individual C World Championships 1st
62 25 February 1997 15 km Pursuit F World Championships 1st
63 2 March 1997 50 km Individual C World Championships 3rd
64 8 March 1997 Sweden Falun, Sweden 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
65 11 March 1997 Sweden Sunne, Sweden 1.0 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
66 15 March 1997 Norway Oslo, Norway 50 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
67 1997–98 22 November 1997 Norway Beitostølen, Norway 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
68 13 December 1997 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 10 km Individual C World Cup 1st
69 14 December 1997 15 km Pursuit F World Cup 1st
70 16 December 1997 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
71 20 December 1997 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
72 14 March 1998 Norway Oslo, Norway 50 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
73  1998–99  28 November 1998 Finland Muonio, Finland 10 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
74 12 December 1998 Italy Toblach, Italy 10 km Individual F World Cup 1st
75 13 December 1998 15 km Pursuit C World Cup 1st
76 19 December 1998 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
77 9 January 1999 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
78 12 January 1999 30 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
79 19 February 1999 Austria Ramsau, Austria 30 km Individual F World Championships 3rd
80 7 March 1999 Finland Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
81 20 March 1999 Norway Oslo, Norway 50 km Individual F World Cup 2nd

Team podiums

  • 16 victories
  • 27 podiums
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammates
1  1987–88  13 March 1988 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Bjørn / Mikkelsplass / Ulvang
2  1988–89  5 March 1989 Norway Oslo, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Mikkelsplass / Ulvang / Langli
3 12 March 1989 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 3rd Langli / Mikkelsplass / Ulvang
4 1990–91 15 February 1991 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 4 ×10 km Relay C/F World Championships 1st Skaanes / Langli / Ulvang
5 1 March 1991 Finland Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Skaanes / Langli / Skjeldal
6 1991–92 18 February 1992 France Albertville, France 4 × 10 km Relay C/F Olympic Games 1st Langli / Ulvang / Skjeldal
7 28 February 1992 Finland Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Langli / Ulvang / Skjeldal
8 8 March 1992 Sweden Funäsdalen, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 1st Sivertsen / Langli / Ulvang
9 1992–93 26 February 1993 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Championships 1st Sivertsen / Ulvang / Langli
10  1993–94  22 February 1994 Norway Lillehammer, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C/F Olympic Games 2nd Sivertsen / Ulvang / Alsgaard
11 13 March 1994 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Sivertsen / Jevne / Ulvang
12 1994–95 18 December 1994 Italy Sappada, Italy 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Kristiansen / Skjeldal / Alsgaard
13 5 February 1995 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Sivertsen / Langli / Alsgaard
14 17 March 1995 Canada Thunder Bay, Canada 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Championships 1st Sivertsen / Jevne / Alsgaard
15 26 March 1995 Japan Sapporo, Japan 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Ulvang / Skjeldal / Alsgaard
16  1995–96  10 December 1995 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Sivertsen / Jevne / Alsgaard
17 14 January 1996 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Alsgaard / Ulvang / Jevne
18 25 February 1996 Norway Trondheim, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Ulvang / Jevne / Alsgaard
19 17 March 1996 Norway Oslo, Norway 4 × 5 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Kristiansen / Ulvang / Eide
20  1996–97  24 November 1996 Sweden Kiruna, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 3rd Skjeldal / Eide / Ulvang
21 15 December 1996 Italy Brusson, Italy 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Kristiansen / Eide / Skjeldal
22 28 February 1997 Norway Trondheim, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Championships 1st Sivertsen / Jevne / Alsgaard
23 9 March 1997 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Sivertsen / Jevne / Skjeldal
24 1997–98 23 November 1997 Norway Beitostølen, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 1st Alsgaard / Eide / Jevne
25  1998–99  29 November 1998 Finland Muonio, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Bjørndalen / Skjeldal / Hetland
26 20 December 1998 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Jevne / Bjervig / Hetland
27 26 February 1999 Austria Ramsau, Austria 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Championships 2nd Bjervig / Jevne / Alsgaard

Note: Until the 1999 World Championships and the 1994 Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bjørn Dæhlie para niños

  • List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
  • List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
  • List of multiple Winter Olympic medalists
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