Hilde Gjermundshaug Pedersen
Encyclopedia
Hilde Gjermundshaug Pedersen (born 11 August 1964) is a Norwegian
cross-country skier
. Her first Olympic medal was a silver 4 × 5 km at the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City. At the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin
, she took the bronze medal in the 10 km classical interval start event. Pedersen is the oldest woman ever to win a cross country skiing World Cup race, which she did at age 41 in January 2006 in Otepää
, Estonia
.
Gjermundshaug Pedersen has also won six medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
, including two golds (4 x 5 km, team sprint: both 2005), two silvers (4 x 5 km: 2001, 2003), and two bronzes (Individual sprint, 10 km: both 2003).
She also won the Egebergs Ærespris
in 2003. This prestigious prize is awarded to athletes who reach international top level in one sport and concurrently perform at national level (or better) in a second sport. Gjermundshaug Pedersen has also competed in ski orienteering, a sport in which she received three silver medals and two bronze medals in the World championships
, and she has also won the overall World Cup (1997).
At age 42, Gjermundshaug Pedersen decided to make a comeback in the World Cup for the 2006/2007 season. In January 2008 she won her seventh Norwegian Championships gold medal, in the 10 km interval start race.
An unparalleled historic curiosum is the Norwegian Championship 3 x 5 km cross-country ski relay of 2006, where the entire winning team of Nybygda consisted of Gjermundshaug Pedersens: mother Hilde with her two twin daughters Eli and Ida.
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...
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...
. Her first Olympic medal was a silver 4 × 5 km at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City. At the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, she took the bronze medal in the 10 km classical interval start event. Pedersen is the oldest woman ever to win a cross country skiing World Cup race, which she did at age 41 in January 2006 in Otepää
Otepää
Otepää is a town in Valga County, southern Estonia, it's the administrative centre of Otepää Parish. Town has a population of 2,189 . Otepää is a popular skiing resort, popularly known as the "winter capital" of Estonia...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
.
Gjermundshaug Pedersen has also won six medals at the FIS Nordic 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...
, including two golds (4 x 5 km, team sprint: both 2005), two silvers (4 x 5 km: 2001, 2003), and two bronzes (Individual sprint, 10 km: both 2003).
She also won the Egebergs Ærespris
Egebergs Ærespris
The Egebergs Ærespris is a prize awarded to Norwegian athletes who excel in more than one sport. The prize was created by Ferdinand Julian Egeberg, and consists of a bronze statuette modelled by sculptor Magnus Vigrestad.-History:...
in 2003. This prestigious prize is awarded to athletes who reach international top level in one sport and concurrently perform at national level (or better) in a second sport. Gjermundshaug Pedersen has also competed in ski orienteering, a sport in which she received three silver medals and two bronze medals in the World championships
World Ski Orienteering Championships
The World Ski Orienteering Championships is the official event to award the titles of World Champions in ski orienteering. The World Championships is organized every odd year. The programme includes Sprint, Middle and Long Distance competitions, and a Relay for both men and women...
, and she has also won the overall World Cup (1997).
At age 42, Gjermundshaug Pedersen decided to make a comeback in the World Cup for the 2006/2007 season. In January 2008 she won her seventh Norwegian Championships gold medal, in the 10 km interval start race.
An unparalleled historic curiosum is the Norwegian Championship 3 x 5 km cross-country ski relay of 2006, where the entire winning team of Nybygda consisted of Gjermundshaug Pedersens: mother Hilde with her two twin daughters Eli and Ida.