Espen Bredesen
Encyclopedia
Espen Bredesen is a Norwegian
ski jumper who competed from 1990 to 2000 representing Oppsal IL/Kollenhopp in Oslo
.
At the 1992 Winter Olympics
, he performed badly, coming last in the normal hill and 57th out of 59 on the large hill. He had converted from the classical
to the V-style
just a month previously. His poor performance gave him the nickname "Espen the Eagle", based on British ski jumper Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards
.
At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1993 in Falun
, he won gold medals both in the team large hill and the individual large hill events. In the 1993/94 season, he won the Four Hills Tournament
. He won gold and silver medals at the 1994 Winter Olympics
at Lillehammer
, and won a silver medal at the FIS Ski-Flying World Championships 1994
in Planica
. Bredesen twice improved the world ski flying record with jumps of 209 meters (1994) and 210 meters (1997).
Bredesen also won the ski jumping competition at the Holmenkollen ski festival
in 1993. He was awarded the Holmenkollen medal
in 1994 (shared with Ljubov Egorova and Vladimir Smirnov
).
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...
ski jumper who competed from 1990 to 2000 representing Oppsal IL/Kollenhopp in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
At the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 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...
, he performed badly, coming last in the normal hill and 57th out of 59 on the large hill. He had converted from the classical
Daescher technique
The Daescher technique is a ski jumping technique that was created by Andreas Daescher of Switzerland. This technique was created in the 1950s as a modification of the Kongsberger technique where the arms are placed backward toward the hips for a closer lean...
to the V-style
V-style
The V-style of ski jumping was created by Miroslaw Graf, a Polish ski jumper from Szklarska Poreba. As early as 1969 Graf discovered the style as a kid, but later his colleagues were laughing at his jumps....
just a month previously. His poor performance gave him the nickname "Espen the Eagle", based on British ski jumper Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards
Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards
Michael Edwards , better known as Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, is a British skier who was the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping...
.
At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1993 in Falun
Falun
Falun is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 36,447 inhabitants in 2005. It is also the capital of Dalarna County...
, he won gold medals both in the team large hill and the individual large hill events. In the 1993/94 season, he won the Four Hills Tournament
Four Hills Tournament
The Four Hills Tournament is composed of four Ski Jumping World Cup events and has taken place in Germany and Austria each year since 1952.The Four Hills Tournament champion is the one who gets the most points over the four events...
. He won gold and silver medals at the 1994 Winter Olympics
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...
at Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
, and won a silver medal at the FIS Ski-Flying World Championships 1994
FIS Ski-Flying World Championships 1994
The FIS Ski-Flying World Ski Championships 1994 took place on 20 March 1994 in Planica, Slovenia for the record fourth time. Planica hosted the championships previously when it was part of Yugoslavia in 1972, 1979, and 1985. This was the first sports event to take place in Slovenia after it...
in Planica
Planica
Planica is an alpine valley in northwestern Slovenia, extending south from the border village of Rateče, not far from another well-known ski resort, Kranjska Gora. Further south, the valley extends into the Tamar Valley, a popular hiking destination in Triglav National Park.Planica is famous for...
. Bredesen twice improved the world ski flying record with jumps of 209 meters (1994) and 210 meters (1997).
Bredesen also won the ski jumping competition 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...
in 1993. He 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 1994 (shared with Ljubov Egorova and Vladimir Smirnov
Vladimir Smirnov (skier)
Vladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov is an Kazakhstani former cross-country skier who raced from the mid-1980s until 1988 for the USSR and, later, for his native country...
).