Thorleif Haug facts for kids
Thorleif Haug at the 1924 Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix, France
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 28 September 1894 Vivelstad, Lier, Norway |
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| Died | 12 December 1934 (aged 40) Drammen, Norway |
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| Sport | Nordic skiing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Drafn, Drammen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Thorleif Haug (born September 28, 1894 – died December 12, 1934) was a famous Norwegian skier. He was amazing at two types of skiing: nordic combined and cross-country skiing.
At the very first Winter Olympics in 1924, he won three gold medals! These were for the 18 km cross-country race, the 50 km cross-country race, and the nordic combined event. He also won a bronze medal in ski jumping. However, 50 years later, a mistake was found in the scores. So, his daughter gave the medal to another skier, Anders Haugen.
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About Thorleif Haug
Thorleif Haug was born in a place called Vivelstad. This is a narrow valley in Norway, between Lier and Drammen in Buskerud county. He grew up on a farm named Årkvisla.
Skiing Achievements
Thorleif Haug was one of the best skiers in the 1920s. He was especially good at nordic combined and cross-country skiing. He won three gold medals at the first Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix, France. He also placed fourth in the ski jumping event at those same Olympics.
He won the 50-kilometer cross-country race at the famous Holmenkollen ski festival six times. This was a record! He won in 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, and 1924. He also won the nordic combined event at Holmenkollen three times, from 1919 to 1921.
In 1919, Thorleif Haug received the Holmenkollen medal. This is a very special award for skiers. He shared it with another Norwegian skier named Otto Aasen. Thorleif also won a silver medal in nordic combined at the 1926 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland. He skied for his local club, SBK Drafn, in Drammen.
Remembering Thorleif Haug
People still remember Thorleif Haug today for his amazing achievements.
Statues and Roads
In 1946, a statue of Thorleif Haug was put up in Drammen, Norway. A Norwegian artist named Per Palle Storm created it. In 1952, a road in Oslo was named after him. It is in the Voksenkollen area.
Skiing Events and Clubs
Since 1966, Thorleif Haug's skiing club has held a special race in his honor. It is called the Thorleif Haugs Minneløp, which means Thorleif Haug's Memorial Race. This race is part of the Thorleif Haug Skifestival, a bigger ski festival. The race goes from Geithus to Drammen, passing by his childhood home at Årkvisla farm.
Drammen also has a lit-up ski track named Thorleif Haug's way. It is along Bragernesåsen. In 1984, a club called Thorleif Haug Lodge was started. It is part of the Sons of Norway organization.
Olympic Cross-Country Results
Thorleif Haug won two gold medals in cross-country skiing at the Olympics.
| Year | Age | 18 km | 50 km |
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| 1924 | 29 | Gold | Gold |
