Magdalena Forsberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Magdalena Forsberg

Magdalena Forsberg during the Swedish Sports Awards inside the Stockholm Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden in January 2014
Personal information
Birth name	Magdalena Wallin
Nickname(s)	Magda
Born	(1967-07-25) 25 July 1967 (age 58) Ullånger, Sweden
Height	1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Professional information
Sport	Biathlon
Club	Sundsvall Biathlon
World Cup debut	8 December 1994
Retired	24 March 2002
Olympic Games
Teams	2 (1998, 2002)
Medals	2 (0 gold)
World Championships
Teams	8 (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Medals	12 (6 gold)
World Cup
Seasons	8 (1994/95–2001/02)
Individual victories	42
Individual podiums	87
Overall titles	6 (1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02)
Discipline titles	17: 4 Individual (1997–98, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02); 5 Sprint (1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02); 6 Pursuit (1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02); 2 Mass start (2000–01, 2001–02)
Medal record Women's biathlon Representing  Sweden International biathlon competitions Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 0 0 2 World Championships 6 1 5 Total 6 1 7 Olympic Games Bronze 2002 Salt Lake City 15 km individual Bronze 2002 Salt Lake City 7.5 km sprint World Championships Gold 1997 Brezno-Osrblie 15 km individual Gold 1997 Brezno-Osrblie 10 km pursuit Gold 1998 Pokljuka 10 km pursuit Gold 2000 Oslo 10 km pursuit Gold 2001 Pokljuka 15 km individual Gold 2001 Pokljuka 12.5 km mass start Silver 1999 Kontiolahti 7.5 km sprint Bronze 1996 Ruhpolding 7.5 km sprint Bronze 1997 Brezno-Osrblie 7.5 km sprint Bronze 1999 Oslo 12.5 km mass start Bronze 2000 Oslo 15 km individual Bronze 2001 Pokljuka 10 km pursuit Women's cross-country skiing Representing  Sweden World Championships Bronze 1987 Oberstdorf 4 × 5 km relay Junior World Championships Silver 1985 Täsch 3 × 5 km relay Bronze 1986 Lake Placid 3 × 5 km relay Bronze 1987 Asiago 15 km

Magdalena "Magda" Forsberg (born July 25, 1967) is a famous Swedish athlete. She was a top competitor in two winter sports: cross-country skiing and biathlon. Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting. Magdalena was the best female biathlete in the world for six years in a row, from 1997 to 2002. She won many World Cup titles and championships.

Magdalena is married to Henrik Forsberg, who was also a biathlete and cross-country skier. They got married in 1996.

Magdalena's Skiing Career

Magdalena Forsberg started her sports journey as a cross-country skier. She competed from 1988 to 1996.

Early Cross-Country Success

Magdalena took part in the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup. Her best results at the Winter Olympics were in Albertville in 1992. There, she finished seventh in a team relay race. She also placed 26th in a 15-kilometer race.

At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, her best individual finish was tenth place. This was in the 30-kilometer event in 1989. In 1987, she helped the Swedish team win a bronze medal in a relay race. She also achieved a second-place finish in a World Cup race in Finland in 1988.

Switching to Biathlon

Magdalena Forsberg began competing in biathlon in 1993. She quickly became one of the best in the world. She retired from the sport in 2002.

Dominating the Biathlon World Cup

From 1997 to 2002, Magdalena won the overall Biathlon World Cup title six times in a row. This is a huge achievement! She also won six gold medals at the Biathlon World Championships. She earned one silver medal and five bronze medals at these championships.

Olympic Medals and Records

At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Magdalena won two bronze medals. Throughout her biathlon career, she won a total of 42 individual Biathlon World Cup races. This is more than any other female biathlete has ever achieved!

A Fun Comeback

Magdalena Forsberg retired from sports after the 2001–02 season. However, she made a short comeback in April 2006. This happened because she lost a bet! The bet was that she would compete in the Swedish Championship in Women's Relay if her friend, Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek, won an Olympic gold medal. Anna Carin did win gold in 2006. So, Magdalena and Anna Carin teamed up and won the relay competition!

Working with a Top Coach

For much of her career, Magdalena was coached by Wolfgang Pichler. He later became the coach for the Swedish national biathlon team.

Life After Sports

After retiring from sports, Magdalena Forsberg continued to learn and grow.

Studying Business

She enrolled in a business class at the Johan Cruyff Institute in Stockholm. Other famous Swedish athletes, like Peter Forsberg, also joined this class. Magdalena also studied tax laws.

Special Awards

Magdalena Forsberg is the only Swedish athlete to have won the Jerring Award four times. This award is given to the most popular Swedish athlete of the year. She competed in both biathlon and cross-country skiing at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

Biathlon Achievements

All of Magdalena's biathlon results come from the International Biathlon Union.

Olympic Games Results

Magdalena won 2 bronze medals at the Olympics.

Event	Individual	Sprint	Pursuit	Relay
1998 Nagano	14th	17th	N/A	10th
2002 Salt Lake City	Bronze	Bronze	6th	—

*The Pursuit event was added to the Olympics in 2002.

World Championships Results

Magdalena won 12 medals at the World Championships: 6 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze.

Event	Individual	Sprint	Pursuit	Mass start	Team	Relay
1995 Antholz-Anterselva	7th	19th	N/A	N/A	—	14th
1996 Ruhpolding	15th	Bronze	N/A	N/A	9th	10th
1997 Brezno-Osrblie	Gold	Bronze	Gold	N/A	11th	16th
1998 Pokljuka	N/A	N/A	Gold	N/A	7th	N/A
1999 Kontiolahti	6th	Silver	5th	Bronze	N/A	—
2000 Oslo Holmenkollen	Bronze	4th	Gold	4th	N/A	13th
2001 Pokljuka	Gold	6th	Bronze	Gold	N/A	—
2002 Oslo Holmenkollen	N/A	N/A	N/A	8th	N/A	N/A

*During Olympic years, competitions are only held for events not included in the Olympics.

**The Team event was removed in 1998. Pursuit was added in 1997, and Mass Start was added in 1999.

Cross-Country Skiing Achievements

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

Olympic Games Cross-Country Results

World Championships Cross-Country Results

Magdalena won 1 bronze medal at the Cross-Country World Championships.

Cross-Country World Cup Standings

Cross-Country Individual Podiums

Magdalena had 1 individual podium finish.

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place
1	1987–88	27 March 1988	Rovaniemi, Finland	10 km Individual F	World Cup	2nd

Cross-Country Team Podiums

Magdalena was part of 2 team podium finishes.

No.	Season	Date	Location	Race	Level	Place	Teammates
1	1986–87	17 February 1987	Oberstdorf, West Germany	4 × 5 km Relay F	World Championships	3rd	Lamberg-Skog / Dahlman / Westin
2	1988–89	12 March 1989	Falun, Sweden	4 × 5 km Relay C	World Cup	3rd	Svingstedt / Lamberg-Skog / Fritzon

See also

In Spanish: Magdalena Forsberg para niños