Johan Olsson (skier)


Johan Arne Olsson is a Swedish cross-country skiing coach and former skier. He is a two-time Olympic champion who raced from 1998 to 2017. Olsson won five individual FIS Cross-Country World Cup victories and 2 additional podium finishes during his career.

Athletic career

Olsson became an Olympian in 2006 when he was selected to represent Sweden in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He earned a bronze medal in the 4 × 10 km relay and finished 6th in the 15 km event. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Olsson earned a bronze medal in the 30 km pursuit after leading most of the race, and together with the Swedish team he won the gold medal on the 4 × 10 km relay after a deciding performance on the 2nd stage. During the same Olympic Games Olsson won another bronze medal in the 50 km event.
In the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2013 in Val di Fiemme, Olsson won the prestigious 50 km classical race. He pulled ahead of the pack after 20 km and never let go of his lead. It was an impressive solo performance to win Sweden's first gold medal on the 50 km in a big competition in over 20 years. Olsson also won silver on the 15 km freestyle, finishing 9 seconds behind Petter Northug.
At the 2014 Winter Olympics Olsson won a silver medal at the 15 km classical.
Olsson retired from skiing before the 2015-2016 season, but announced a comeback in April 2016 for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti. Olsson retired from professional skiing in April 2017.
On 12 April 2017, his second retirement from cross-country skiing was announced.

Coaching career

In May 2018, it was announced that Olsson would become a coach for Team Sweden men's cross-country skiing, for the 2018–2019 season, together with Mattias Nilsson and Fredrik Uusitalo.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation.

Olympic Games

Year Age 15 km
individual
30 km
skiathlon
50 km
mass start
Sprint 4 × 10 km
relay
Team
sprint
20062562325Bronze
20102911BronzeBronzeGold
201433Silver9Gold

World Championships

Year Age 15 km
individual
30 km
skiathlon
50 km
mass start
Sprint 4 × 10 km
relay
Team
sprint
2005244621197
200726720
2009288166
201130171616Silver
201332SilverGoldSilver
201534GoldBronzeSilver
201736926Bronze

World Cup

Season standings

Individual podiums

No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlace
12008–0913 December 2008 Davos, Switzerland15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
22008–0924 January 2009 Otepää, Estonia15 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
32008–0914 February 2009 Valdidentro, Italy15 km Individual CWorld Cup3rd
42011–1219 November 2011 Sjusjøen, Norway15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
52011–1211 February 2012 Nové Město, Czech Republic30 km Mass Start CWorld Cup1st
62011–1218 February 2012 Szklarska Poręba, Poland15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
72012–1317 February 2013 Davos, Switzerland15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st

Team podiums

No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlaceTeammates
12003–0414 December 2003 Davos, Switzerland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup3rdLarsson / Larsson / Högberg
22007–089 December 2007 Davos, Switzerland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup3rdLarsson / Södergren / Hellner
32008–0923 November 2008 Gällivare, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2ndRickardsson / Andreasson / Hellner
42008–097 December 2008 La Clusaz, France4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2ndRickardsson / Södergren / Hellner
52010–1121 November 2010 Gällivare, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1stLarsson / Rickardsson / Hellner
62011–1220 November 2011 Sjusjøen, Norway4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup3rdHellner / Rickardsson / Halfvarsson
72011–1212 February 2012 Nové Město, Czech Republic4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2ndRickardsson / Södergren / Hellner
82012–1325 November 2012 Gällivare, Sweden4 × 7.5 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2ndJönsson / Rickardsson / Hellner
92012–1320 January 2013 La Clusaz, France4 × 7.5 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2ndRickardsson / Halfvarsson / Hellner
102016–1721 January 2017 Ulricehamn, Sweden4 × 7.5 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2ndRickardsson / Hellner / Halfvarsson

Personal life

Olsson married his former teammate Anna Olsson in 2008. Together they have two daughters, named Molly and Signe.