![]() He has a legendary coach: Kaare Hosflo, his grandfather. He played soccer until 16 and even now plays hockey in the offseason with Aamodt.Ĭross-country skier Johannes Hosflot Klaebo, who could win a record six medals, comes from a parent-run sports club. He skied daily after school, venturing out to a hill next to his house. Kilde, the world’s top male downhill skier, is a product of the Nor-way. Starting in 1992, Norway’s rankings in total medal standings at the Winter Olympics: 4, 1, 2, 3, 6, 4, 3, 1. “A lot of guys showing the way, which again is bringing us new skills and new recruitment.” Those were also the first Olympics for Alpine skier Kjetil Andre Aamodt and speed skater Johann Olav Koss, who similarly became icons. Ulvang and Bjorn Daehlie each won three golds and a silver in Albertville, France. Norway thrived, particularly in cross-country skiing. The Soviet Union and East Germany earned the most medals at the 1988 Winter Games, but were gone by the next Olympics in 1992. A program called Olympiatoppen – loosely translated to Olympic Summit – centralized elite sport. “When I remember my preparation for the 1988 Olympics, there's no question we were amateurs,” Ulvang said. nor the government or military athlete backing of Central European nations. That was huge for Norway, which doesn’t have the university sports system of the U.S. The charming village of Lillehammer was awarded the 1994 Winter Olympics over Östersund, Sweden, and Anchorage, Alaska. “That’s a long question with a lot of answers,” he said. I asked Ulvang, who since retiring in 1997 held roles with the International Ski Federation, how Norway became the world’s best winter sports nation. “I was very happy with my own results, but the team was called a disaster.” I got a bronze medal there,” said Vegard Ulvang, who cross-country skied at the Olympics in 1988, 19. “I remember it very well, because I had one of the best days of my life. It won zero gold medals, and just five total medals, at the Calgary Games. Media have cited its unique sport development philosophy – parent-supported local clubs where kids aren’t ranked nor encouraged to specialize until middle-school age.īut Norway hasn’t always been the best. ![]() Norway, with the population of South Carolina, is widely seen as the model winter sports nation. has long-shot podium threats in Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Bryce Bennettand Travis Ganongon a track nobody has raced before.īut between this race and the first men’s cross-country skiing event, this should be a day that Norway accelerates its march to yet again top the medal standings. Traditional Alpine powers also boast medal contenders: Austria (2014 Olympic champ Matthias Mayerand 2021 World champ Vincent Kriechmayr) and Switzerland ( Beat Feuzand Marco Odermatt). Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kildeis the favorite in the men’s downhill, one of the marquee events of the Winter Olympics. All events also stream live on Peacock Event ![]()
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