Bjørn Dæhlie


Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie is a Norwegian businessman and retired cross-country skier. In the years from 1992 to 1999, Dæhlie won the Nordic World Cup six times, finishing second in 1994 and 1998. 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 male cross-country skier in history.
During his career, Dæhlie measured a VO2 max of 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 half a billion kroner. Dæhlie has been featured in advertising campaigns, he started a brand of signature ski apparel, and he co-hosted a television show called Gutta på tur. Dæhlie also invented the Salomon Nordic System Pilot Bindings.

Early life and career

Born in Elverum, 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, football and, of course, skiing from a very early age. For much of his childhood Dæhlie wanted to be a football 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.

Athletic career

Dæhlie was first on the Norwegian skiing team for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. However, he did not participate in any races and was there to learn from more senior skiers. He later claimed these Olympics were the turning point for Norwegian skiing before their following period of success. He made his debut in the world cup in January 1989, finishing 11th on 15 km freestyle in Kavgolovo. In December the same year, he won his first world cup race. He finished first on the 15 km freestyle, the first world cup race of the season.
In the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1991 in Val di Fiemme, Dæhlie won his first World Championship gold medal. He beat skiing legend Gunde Svan on the 15 km freestyle. The medal was unexpected, since Dæhlie was young and still unknown. It was Norway's first individual gold medal in the World Championships since Oddvar Brå won gold in the same race in Oslo in 1982. Dæhlie also skied the last leg on the winning 4 × 10 km relay team.
In 1992, Dæhlie's period of dominance started. He won the world cup overall for the first time, a feat he would accomplish five more times in the next seven years. In Albertville Dæhlie won his first Olympic medals. He won gold in 10/15 km freestyle pursuit, 50 km freestyle and was on the winning team for the 4 × 10 km relay. He won a silver in 30 km classical style. Dæhlie also finished fourth on the 10 km freestyle, where his teammate Vegard Ulvang won the gold. Dæhlie completed the fourth leg of the relay, and crossed the finishing line backwards, having won by a margin of over one and a half minutes. Dæhlie and Ulvang completed a clean sweep of the cross-country skiing gold medals, each winning three golds and a silver. Dæhlie was awarded Fearnley's Olympic Prize for his performance, a prize given to the best performing Norwegian athlete in the Olympics.
In the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, Dæhlie won gold in the 10 km classical style and the 15 km freestyle pursuit. He won silver in the 30 km freestyle, where he was beaten by Thomas Alsgaard. The 4 × 10 km relay was a very tight race between Norway and Italy. The Italians won the gold after Silvio Fauner beat Dæhlie on the sprint on the last leg. In later years, Thomas Alsgaard took over the fourth leg on the Norwegian relay team with Dæhlie skiing the third leg, since Alsgaard was the better sprinter.
The 1997 Skiing World Championships were Dæhlie's most successful World Championships. In front of the home crowd in Trondheim he won a medal in every race, taking gold in the 10 km classical race, the 10+15 km combined pursuit and the 4 × 10 km relay. In addition he won a silver in the 30 km freestyle and bronze in the 50 km classical. Dæhlie said the championships were like "Lillehammer all over again" and that "For me, it's very special to compete in Norway".
Dæhlie won three golds and one silver in his last Olympics in Nagano. He won the 10 km classical style, the 50 km freestyle and the 4 × 10 km skiing relay. In the 15 km freestyle pursuit, he got a silver medal having been beaten by Thomas Alsgaard on the sprint. Dæhlie won the 50 km freestyle ahead of Niklas Jonsson by only eight seconds. Both skiers collapsed on the finishing line, having given everything in pursuit of victory. Dæhlie described the race as his hardest race ever. Dæhlie also formed a lasting friendship with Phillip Boit, the Kenyan skier. Dæhlie waited for Boit on the finish line for 20 minutes following the 10 km race, saying Boit deserved encouragement. Philip went on to name one of his children Dæhlie Boit.
Dæhlie was planning to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, but he was prevented from participating by a career-ending roller skiing accident in August 1999. The resulting back injury prevented Dæhlie from adding more medals to his collection. He retired from the sport in March 2001, having tried extensive rehabilitation and surgery to come back. His decision to retire shocked the nation of Norway, where Dæhlie was idolized for his great winning record.
Dæhlie's eight Olympic titles are a record for the Winter Olympics, as are his total of 12 Olympic medals which he amassed in three Olympics. In addition to his achievements at the Olympics he had great success in the World Championships where he won 17 medals of which nine were gold medals. He was particularly successful in the Trondheim 1997 World Championships, where he earned medals in all five events. Despite his unanticipated early exit from the sport, Dæhlie is considered by many to be one of the greatest Winter Olympic athletes of all time. In his illustrious career, Dæhlie never won a race at the Holmenkollen ski festival, but he was still awarded the Holmenkollen medal in 1997.
He also supports non-profit organisations that work for causes such as multiple sclerosis. In 2009 Dæhlie raced in the American Birkebeiner as a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis. 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
Dæhlie also participated in long-distance running in his youth, representing Ullensaker/Kisa IL. He participated in the Nordic junior match versus Denmark/Iceland, Finland and Sweden in 1987.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation.

Olympic Games

Year Age 10 km Pursuit 15 km 30 km 50 km 4 × 10 km
relay
198820—–——
1992244GoldSilverGoldGold
199426GoldGoldSilver4Silver
199830GoldSilver20GoldGold

World Championships

Season titles

Individual podiums

No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlace
11989–909 December 1989 Soldier Hollow, United States15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
21989–9016 December 1989 Canmore, Canada15 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
31989–9017 February 1990 Campra, Switzerland15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
41989–9021 February 1990 Val di Fiemme, Italy30 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
51989–904 March 1990 Lahti, Finland15 km + 15 km Pursuit F/CWorld Cup1st
6 1990–91 5 January 1991 Minsk, Soviet Union15 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
7 1990–91 9 January 1991 Štrbské Pleso, Czechoslovakia30 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
8 1990–91 9 February 1991 Val di Fiemme, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Championships1st
9 1991–92 7 December 1991 Silver Star, Canada15 km Pursuit CWorld Cup2nd
10 1991–92 14 December 1991 Thunder Bay, Canada30 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
11 1991–92 4 January 1992 Kavgolovo, Russia30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
12 1991–92 11 January 1992 Cogne, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
13 1991–92 10 February 1992 Albertville, France30 km Individual COlympic Games2nd
14 1991–92 15 February 1992 Albertville, France15 km Pursuit FOlympic Games1st
15 1991–92 22 February 1992 Albertville, France50 km Individual FOlympic Games1st
16 1991–92 29 February 1992 Lahti, Finland15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
17 1991–92 7 March 1992 Funäsdalen, Sweden30 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
181992–9313 December 1992 Ramsau, Austria15 km Pursuit CWorld Cup1st
191992–933 January 1993 Kavgolovo, Russia30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
201992–939 January 1993 Ulrichen, Switzerland15 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
211992–9316 January 1993 Bohinj, Slovenia15 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
221992–9320 February 1993 Falun, Sweden30 km Individual CWorld Championships1st
231992–9324 February 1993 Falun, Sweden15 km Pursuit FWorld Championships1st
241992–9328 February 1993 Falun, Sweden50 km Individual FWorld Championships3rd
251992–9319 March 1993 Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
261993–9418 December 1993 Davos, Switzerland15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
271993–9422 December 1993 Toblach, Italy15 km Pursuit FWorld Cup3rd
281993–949 January 1994 Kavgolovo, Russia15 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
291993–9415 January 1994 Oslo, Norway15 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
301993–9414 February 1994 Lillehammer, Norway30 km Individual FOlympic Games2nd
311993–9417 February 1994 Lillehammer, Norway10 km Individual COlympic Games1st
321993–9419 February 1994 Lillehammer, Norway15 km Pursuit FOlympic Games1st
331993–945 March 1994 Lahti, Finland15 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
341994–9527 November 1994 Kiruna, Sweden10 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
351994–9514 December 1994 Tauplitzalm, Austria15 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
361994–9517 December 1994 Sappada, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
371994–958 January 1995 Östersund, Sweden30 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
381994–9527 January 1995 Lahti, Finland15 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
391994–9529 January 1995 Lahti, Finland15 km Pursuit CWorld Cup3rd
401994–954 February 1995 Falun, Sweden30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
411994–959 March 1995 Thunder Bay, Canada30 km Individual CWorld Championships2nd
421994–9511 March 1995 Thunder Bay, Canada10 km Individual CWorld Championships2nd
431994–9519 March 1995 Thunder Bay, Canada50 km Individual FWorld Championships2nd
441994–954 February 1995 Sapporo, Japan15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
45 1995–96 26 November 1995 Vuokatti, Finland10 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
46 1995–96 29 November 1995 Gällivare, Sweden10 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
47 1995–96 9 December 1995 Davos, Switzerland30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
48 1995–96 13 December 1995 Brusson, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
49 1995–96 16 December 1995 Santa Caterina, Italy10 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
50 1995–96 17 December 1995 Santa Caterina, Italy15 km Pursuit FWorld Cup1st
51 1995–96 9 January 1996 Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia50 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
52 1995–96 2 February 1996 Seefeld, Austria10 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
53 1995–96 10 February 1996 Kavgolovo, Russia15 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
54 1995–96 24 February 1996 Trondheim, Norway30 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
55 1995–96 3 March 1996 Lahti, Finland30 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
56 1995–96 9 March 1996 Falun, Sweden10 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
571996–9723 November 1996 Kiruna, Sweden10 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
581996–9714 December 1996 Brusson, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
591996–9718 December 1996 Oberstdorf, Germany30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
601996–9721 February 1997 Trondheim, Norway30 km Individual FWorld Championships2nd
611996–9724 February 1997 Trondheim, Norway10 km Individual CWorld Championships1st
621996–9725 February 1997 Trondheim, Norway15 km Pursuit FWorld Championships1st
631996–972 March 1997 Trondheim, Norway50 km Individual CWorld Championships3rd
641996–978 March 1997 Falun, Sweden15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
651996–9711 March 1997 Sunne, Sweden1.0 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
661996–9715 March 1997 Oslo, Norway50 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
671997–9822 November 1997 Beitostølen, Norway10 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
681997–9813 December 1997 Val di Fiemme, Italy10 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
691997–9814 December 1997 Val di Fiemme, Italy15 km Pursuit FWorld Cup1st
701997–9816 December 1997 Val di Fiemme, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
711997–9820 December 1997 Davos, Switzerland30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
721997–9814 March 1998 Oslo, Norway50 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
73 1998–99 28 November 1998 Muonio, Finland10 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
74 1998–99 12 December 1998 Toblach, Italy10 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
75 1998–99 13 December 1998 Toblach, Italy15 km Pursuit CWorld Cup1st
76 1998–99 19 December 1998 Davos, Switzerland30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
77 1998–99 9 January 1999 Nové Město, Czech Republic15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
78 1998–99 12 January 1999 Nové Město, Czech Republic30 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
79 1998–99 19 February 1999 Ramsau, Austria30 km Individual FWorld Championships3rd
80 1998–99 7 March 1999 Lahti, Finland15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
81 1998–99 20 March 1999 Oslo, Norway50 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd

Team podiums

No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlaceTeammates
1 1987–88 13 March 1988 Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup2ndBjørn / Mikkelsplass / Ulvang
2 1988–89 5 March 1989 Oslo, Norway4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup3rdMikkelsplass / Ulvang / Langli
3 1988–89 12 March 1989 Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup3rdLangli / Mikkelsplass / Ulvang
41990–9115 February 1991 Val di Fiemme, Italy4 ×10 km Relay C/FWorld Championships1stSkaanes / Langli / Ulvang
51990–911 March 1991 Lahti, Finland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1stSkaanes / Langli / Skjeldal
61991–9218 February 1992 Albertville, France4 × 10 km Relay C/FOlympic Games1stLangli / Ulvang / Skjeldal
71991–9228 February 1992 Lahti, Finland4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup2ndLangli / Ulvang / Skjeldal
81991–928 March 1992 Funäsdalen, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup1stSivertsen / Langli / Ulvang
91992–9326 February 1993 Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Championships1stSivertsen / Ulvang / Langli
10 1993–94 22 February 1994 Lillehammer, Norway4 × 10 km Relay C/FOlympic Games2ndSivertsen / Ulvang / Alsgaard
11 1993–94 13 March 1994 Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup1stSivertsen / Jevne / Ulvang
121994–9518 December 1994 Sappada, Italy4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup1stKristiansen / Skjeldal / Alsgaard
131994–955 February 1995 Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup1stSivertsen / Langli / Alsgaard
141994–9517 March 1995 Thunder Bay, Canada4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Championships1stSivertsen / Jevne / Alsgaard
151994–9526 March 1995 Sapporo, Japan4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1stUlvang / Skjeldal / Alsgaard
16 1995–96 10 December 1995 Davos, Switzerland4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup2ndSivertsen / Jevne / Alsgaard
17 1995–96 14 January 1996 Nové Město, Czech Republic4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup2ndAlsgaard / Ulvang / Jevne
18 1995–96 25 February 1996 Trondheim, Norway4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1stUlvang / Jevne / Alsgaard
19 1995–96 17 March 1996 Oslo, Norway4 × 5 km Relay FWorld Cup2ndKristiansen / Ulvang / Eide
20 1996–97 24 November 1996 Kiruna, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup3rdSkjeldal / Eide / Ulvang
21 1996–97 15 December 1996 Brusson, Italy4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup1stKristiansen / Eide / Skjeldal
22 1996–97 28 February 1997 Trondheim, Norway4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Championships1stSivertsen / Jevne / Alsgaard
23 1996–97 9 March 1997 Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1stSivertsen / Jevne / Skjeldal
241997–9823 November 1997 Beitostølen, Norway4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup1stAlsgaard / Eide / Jevne
25 1998–99 29 November 1998 Muonio, Finland4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup2ndBjørndalen / Skjeldal / Hetland
26 1998–99 20 December 1998 Davos, Switzerland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1stJevne / Bjervig / Hetland
27 1998–99 26 February 1999 Ramsau, Austria4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Championships2ndBjervig / Jevne / Alsgaard

Note: Until the 1999 World Championships and the 1994 Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.