Bjørn Dæhlie
Encyclopedia
Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie (born 19 June 1967) is a Norwegian
businessman and retired cross-country skier
. With 8 olympic gold medal
s, Dæhlie is the most winning winter olympic champion of all time. With nine gold medals in the Nord World Ski Championships
he is in addition the most winning World Champion skier. Dæhlie won a total of 29 medals in the Olympics and World Championships in the period between 1991 and 1999, making Dæhlie the most successful cross-country skier in history.
During his career, Dæhlie measured the highest Vo2 max
ever recorded at an astounding 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.
In addition to being an athletic figurehead, Dæhlie is a cultural icon in Norway. Since retiring, Dæhlie has become a successful businessman in real estate and fashion. His real estate investments have produced a fortune of more than a quarter of a billion kroner. A shrewd businessman, Dæhlie has been heavily featured in advertising
campaigns, he started a brand of signature ski apparel, and he even co-hosted a television
show called Gutta på tur
. Dæhlie also invented the Salomon Nordic System Pilot Bindings.
, 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
, soccer and of course, skiing
from a very early age. For much of his childhood Dæhlie wanted to be a soccer 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.
, 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 9 were gold medals. He was particularly successful in the Trondheim
1997 World Championships, where he earned medals in all five events. A career-ending roller skiing
accident in 2000 prevented Dæhlie from adding more medals to his collection. Despite his unanticipated early exit from the sport, Dæhlie is considered by many to be the greatest Winter Olympic athlete of all time. Despite the fact that he never won an event at the Holmenkollen ski festival
, Dæhlie was awarded the Holmenkollen medal
in 1997 (shared with Bjarte Engen Vik
and Stefania Belmondo
).
During his career, Dæhlie measured the highest Vo2 max ever recorded at an astounding 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. By comparison a competitive club athlete might achieve a VO2 max of around 70 ml/kg/min.
He also supports non-profit organisations that work for causes such as multiple sclerosis
.
In 2009 Dæhlie raced in the American Birkebeiner
, the largest cross country ski race in America, which is starts in Cable, Wisconsin
and finishes in Hayward, Wisconsin
. 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
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
businessman and retired cross-country skier
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
. With 8 olympic gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s, Dæhlie is the most winning winter olympic champion of all time. With nine gold medals in the Nord World Ski Championships
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
he is in addition the most winning World Champion skier. Dæhlie won a total of 29 medals in the Olympics and World Championships in the period between 1991 and 1999, making Dæhlie the most successful cross-country skier in history.
During his career, Dæhlie measured the highest Vo2 max
VO2 max
VO2 max is the maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and use oxygen during incremental exercise, which reflects the physical fitness of the individual...
ever recorded at an astounding 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.
In addition to being an athletic figurehead, Dæhlie is a cultural icon in Norway. Since retiring, Dæhlie has become a successful businessman in real estate and fashion. His real estate investments have produced a fortune of more than a quarter of a billion kroner. A shrewd businessman, Dæhlie has been heavily featured in advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
campaigns, he started a brand of signature ski apparel, and he even co-hosted a television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show called Gutta på tur
Gutta på tur
Gutta på tur was a Norwegian travel-TV show starring Arne Hjeltnes, famous Norwegian chef, Arne Brimi, professional athlete, Vegard Ulvang and most-winning athlete in the history of the Winter Olympic Games, Bjørn Dæhlie....
. Dæhlie also invented the Salomon Nordic System Pilot Bindings.
Early life and career
Born in ElverumElverum
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Elverum...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Dæhlie later moved to Nannestad
Nannestad
Nannestad is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Teigebyen...
, where he settled down. Dæhlie attributes much of his success in sports to his upbringing where he was active in hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
, soccer and of course, skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
from a very early age. For much of his childhood Dæhlie wanted to be a soccer 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
International Ski Federation
The International Ski Federation, known by its name in French, Fédération Internationale de Ski is the main international organisation for ski sports...
World Cup competitions.
Athletic career
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 (Albertville1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
, Lillehammer
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
and Nagano
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
). In addition to his achievements at the Olympics he had great success in the World Championships
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
where he won 17 medals of which 9 were gold medals. He was particularly successful in the Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
1997 World Championships, where he earned medals in all five events. A career-ending roller skiing
Roller skiing
Roller skiing is a non-snow equivalent to cross-country skiing. Emulating skis, elongated inline skates, with wheels at the ends, are used on tarmac. The skating/skiing action is very similar to actual cross-country skiing on snow....
accident in 2000 prevented Dæhlie from adding more medals to his collection. Despite his unanticipated early exit from the sport, Dæhlie is considered by many to be the greatest Winter Olympic athlete of all time. Despite the fact that he never won an event at the Holmenkollen ski festival
Holmenkollen ski festival
The Holmenkollen Ski Festival is a traditional annual Nordic skiing event in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The full official name of the event is Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic. It takes place in March and has been arranged every year since 1892, except for 1898 and during World War II...
, Dæhlie was awarded the Holmenkollen medal
Holmenkollen medal
The Holmenkollen medal is Norwegian skiing's highest award for competitors. It signifies top placings in international championships and other international events, including the Holmenkollen events....
in 1997 (shared with Bjarte Engen Vik
Bjarte Engen Vik
Bjarte Engen Vik is a former Norwegian nordic combined athlete. He won the FIS World Cup overall twice, in 1997/98 and 1998/99 with a total of 24 wins...
and Stefania Belmondo
Stefania Belmondo
Stefania Belmondo is an Italian former cross-country skier.-Debut:Belmondo was born in Vinadio, in the province of Cuneo , the daughter of a housewife and an electric company employee....
).
During his career, Dæhlie measured the highest Vo2 max ever recorded at an astounding 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. By comparison a competitive club athlete might achieve a VO2 max of around 70 ml/kg/min.
He also supports non-profit organisations that work for causes such as multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
.
In 2009 Dæhlie raced in the American Birkebeiner
American Birkebeiner
The American Birkebeiner is the largest, and one of the longest cross country ski races in North America. The two premier events are the classic and the freestyle race from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin. The 2011 race will be held on February 26...
, the largest cross country ski race in America, which is starts in Cable, Wisconsin
Cable, Wisconsin
Cable is a town in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 836 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Cable is located in the town...
and finishes in Hayward, Wisconsin
Hayward, Wisconsin
Hayward is a city in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, United States, next to the Namekagon River. The population was 2,129 at the 2000 census. The city is surrounded by the Town of Hayward.-Transportation:U.S...
. 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
Kicksled
The kicksled or spark is a small sled consisting of a chair mounted on a pair of flexible metal runners which extend backward to about twice the chair's length. The sled is propelled by kicking the ground by foot. There is a handlebar attached to the top of the chair back...
World Championships in Hurdal
Hurdal
Hurdal is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hurdal....
.
Also in 2011, Dæhlie announced a comeback, stating his intention to participate in long distance races like Marcialonga
Marcialonga
Marcialonga is a cross-country ski race which is arranged for the last Sunday in January in Trentino in Italy. It was first held in 1973. In 2007, it was run for the 34th time....
and Vasaloppet
Vasaloppet
Vasaloppet is an annual long distance cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March in northwestern Dalarna, Sweden between the village of Sälen and town of Mora. It is the oldest, one of the longest, and in popular consideration the biggest cross-country ski race in the world...
.