Stein Eriksen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Stein Eriksen

Alpine skier
Eriksen in 1961
Disciplines	Downhill, Giant Slalom, Slalom, Combined
Born	(1927-12-11)11 December 1927 Oslo, Norway
Died	27 December 2015(2015-12-27) (aged 88) Park City, Utah, U.S.
Retired	1954 (age 26)
Olympics
Teams	2 – (1948, 1952)
Medals	2 (1 gold)
World Championships
Teams	4 – (1948, 1950, 1952, 1954)     includes Olympics
Medals	6 (4 gold)
Medal record Representing  Norway Olympic Games Gold 1952 Oslo Giant Slalom Silver 1952 Oslo Slalom World Championships Gold 1954 Åre Slalom Gold 1954 Åre Giant slalom Gold 1954 Åre Combined Bronze 1950 Aspen Slalom

Stein Eriksen (born December 11, 1927 – died December 27, 2015) was a famous alpine ski racer from Norway. He won an Olympic gold medal. After he stopped racing, he became a director and ambassador at many ski resorts in the United States.

Early Life and Family Background

Stein Eriksen was born in Oslo, Norway, on December 11, 1927. His family had a history of sports. His father, Marius Eriksen, competed in the 1912 Olympic Games as a gymnast.

Stein's brother, Marius Eriksen, Jr., was also an alpine skier. During World War II, his brother became a fighter pilot hero in the Royal Norwegian Air Force. Stein himself became the best slalom skier in Norway in 1949. He won a bronze medal in slalom at the 1950 World Championships in Aspen, Colorado.

A Champion's Ski Career

Eriksen at the 1952 Olympics

Eriksen won a gold medal in the giant slalom at the 1952 Winter Olympics. These games were held in his hometown of Oslo, Norway. He also won a silver medal in the slalom event.

Stein Eriksen was the first male alpine skier from outside the Alps mountains to win an Olympic gold medal. He continued his success by winning three more gold medals at the 1954 World Championships in Åre, Sweden.

He was also known for helping to create "aerials," which is a freestyle skiing event where skiers perform flips and twists in the air. Stein would often show off his amazing flips on skis, combining his gymnastics skills with his skiing talent. For his Olympic wins, he received the Holmenkollen Medal in 1952, a very special award in Norway.

Many people called Eriksen skiing's "first superstar." He was known for being handsome, stylish, and having a great personality. Even with all his fame, he stayed humble. He once said, "Be tough, be confident. But you will never be a whole and happy person if you aren't humble."

Life and Legacy in the United States

Soon after his big wins in the 1952 Olympics, Stein Eriksen moved to the United States. He lived there for the rest of his life. While he was still racing for Norway, he worked as a ski instructor at Sun Valley in Idaho.

After he stopped racing, he became a ski school director at many different resorts. These included Boyne Mountain in Michigan, Sugarbush in Vermont, Heavenly Valley in California, and Park City in Utah. At the time of his death, he was the director of skiing at the Deer Valley Resort in Utah. There is even a ski lodge named in his honor, the Stein Eriksen Lodge, in Deer Valley.

In 1997, the King of Norway honored Stein Eriksen. He was made a knight with the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit. This is the highest award the Norwegian government can give to people living outside Norway, recognizing his important contributions to Norway.

Stein Eriksen celebrated his 80th birthday in December 2007 in Deer Valley. He passed away on December 27, 2015, in his home in Park City, Utah, just sixteen days after his 88th birthday.

Major Championship Results

From 1948 to 1980, the Winter Olympics also counted as the World Championships for alpine skiing.

Images for kids

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  Eriksen in 1961

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  Eriksen at the 1952 Olympics

See also

In Spanish: Stein Eriksen para niños