Biathlon came late into the Olympic program, the first event held in 1960, the first years we had the 20k individual and the team event for men.  Sprint races were included in 1980 and women allowed in 1992.

The first winner in Squaw Valley in 1960 was Klas Lestander of Sweden while Russia won the team event.

Russia dominated in Seefeld in 1964, taking the 2 top spots in the individual competition and the team event as well.

Magnar Solberg of Norway won the individual races in Grenoble 1968 and in Sapporo in 1972 while Russia won these relays that were introduced in 1968.

Russia won the relay for the 5th time in a row in 1976 in Seefeld while a Russian also won individually.

The 1980 marked a turn around in the Olympic program, adding the sprint to the program.

Russia won the relay in 1980 while the great East German Frank Ullrich won the 10k sprint.

In Sarajevo in 1984 Russia won the relay while Peter Angerer won the 20k and Eirik Kvalfoss the sprint.

In Calgary another East German dominated, Frank Peter Roetsch recording 2 individual golds while Russia won the relay.

Olympics Biathlon Notes (2), 1992-1998, 21.05.01

The 1992 Albertville marked another change of course, adding women to the Olympic program.

Germany remained strong in the men’s class, winning the men’s relay and the sprint by Mark Kirchner.

The sprint for women was won by former and later cross country skier Anfissa Restzova.  She won a gold medal in cross country back in the world championships in 1985.  She later went back to cross country skiing and was one of the leading women in the strong Russian team in the late 90's..

In 1994 Russia dominated the men’s class, Tarasov winning the 20k and Tschepalov the 10k, the latter later going on to become a cross country skier.  Germany won the relay.

Canada’s Myriam Bedard won the 15k individual and the 7,5k sprint for women.

Norway’s Halvard Hanevold won the 20k in Nagano 1998 while Ole Einar Bjørndalen took the 10k and Germany the relay.

Olympic Biathlon Notes (3), The Programs, 22.05.01

The initial programs were the team and the 20k for men, the relay was substituted for the team in 1968.  The sprint was added in 1980 and women were allowed in 1992.

The Olympic program in 2002 will include the individual race, the sprint and the pursuit and the relays.  The mass start will be held as a world championships.

Olympic Biathlon Notes (4), Reztsova Double Winner, 23.05.01

Anfissa Reztsova indeed was a remarkable Russian skier.  She won the gold in the women’s cross country relay in the world championships in 1985.  This was the first championships were skating was allowed.

She later went on to become Olympic champion in the women’s cross county relay in 1988 and biathlon in 1992 in Albertville.

She later returned to active cross country skiing and was on the podium in world cup races in 1999, she also was a part of the team who won the women’s relay in the world championships in Ramsau in 1999 (the team Danilova, Lazutina, Reztsova and Gavriljuk).

Norwegian skier Grete Ingeborg Nykkelmo, now married to Vegard Ulvang, won the world championships on 20k in 1985 in cross country and later won the world championships in biathlon in 1991.

Olympic Biathlon Notes (5), 11 Relays Yet Only 2 Winners. 23.05.01

During 40 years and 11 Olympics games there is one event in which there has been only 2 winners.

Russia was the dominant force in the men’s biathlon from the Olympic start for biathlon in 1960. They recorded 8 wins in a row in the men’s relay, not until 1992 did another team win the Olympics.

Germany has since won in 1992, 1994 and 1998.

Olympic Biathlon Notes (6), Bjørndalen Strong in Olympics, 25.05.01

Ole Einar Bjørndalen, the most winning biathlete ever, has yet to win a world championships, but has done well in the Olympics.

Ole Einar lead after day one in the sprint in the Olympics in  Nagano in 1998 when the race was canceled due to too much snow.  Ole Einar did a magnificent race the next day and won by one minute.  He was followed be teammate Frode Andresen.

Ole Einar also got s silver in the relay in 1998, he won all 3 races in the Pre Olympics 2001 and is the most winning biathlete ever. He won all 3 races in the Pre Olympics 2001.

The Olympic program includes the 20k individual, the sprint, pursuit and the relay.

NC Olympic Notes (1), 1924-1936, 19.05.01

Nordic combined was on the Olympic program when it started in 1924.  Norway was the dominant force in the first games, recording the top 4 spots in 1924, the top 3 in 1928, the top 4 in 1932 and the top 3 in 1936.  Famous names include Thorleif Haug, Johan Grøttumsbråten and Oddbjørn Hagen.

NC Olympic Notes (2), 1948-1964, 21.05.01

Norway and Finland did dominate after the war, winners including Heikki Hasu, Simon Slåttvik and Sverre Stenersen. The famous German Georg Thoma won in 1960 while Thormod Knutsen won in 1964.

NC Olympic Notes (3), 1968-1998, 22.05.01

Vest German Franz Keller won in 1968.

Ulrich Wehling, the legendary East German, won in 1972, 1976 and 1980.

Tom Sandberg won in 1984 while the Swiss coach Hippolyt Kampf won in 1988.

France and Fabrice Guy won on home soil in 1992, the same goes for Fred Børre Lundberg in 1994.

Bjarte Engen Vik, the most winning ever, won in 1998 in Nagano.

NC Olympic Notes (4), The New Programs, 23.05.01

The team competition in Nordic combined was introduced in the Olympics in 1988, winners have been Vest Germany, Japan, Japan and Norway.

The Olympic program in 2002 will include the individual and sprint competitions and the relay.

NC Olympic Notes (5), Wehling Greatest Olympian in Nordic Combined, 25.05.01

Ullrich Wehling, at the time representing East Germany, won 3 Olympic gold medals in a row, in 1972, 1976 and 1980. Not until 1982 in the world championships was the team competition included.

Wehling has served as the FIS race director for Nordic combined.

Olympic XC Notes (1), The Pre War Period (1924-1936), 27.05.01

Cross country was on the Olympic program in the first games in 1924, the 18k and th 50k for men.

Thorleif Haug, the winner of Nordic combined in 1924, also won the 18k and the 50k cross country.

Johan Grøttumsbråten did the same in 1928, winning the Nordic combined and the 18k cross country.

Sweden and Finland recorded victories in 1932, Sven Utterstrøm on the 18k and Veli Saarinen on the 50k.

Sweden took both gold medals in Garmish Partenkirchen in 1936, Erik Larsson on the 18k and Elis Wiklund on the 50k.

The relay was introduced this year and Finland won ahead of Norway.

Olympic XC Notes (2), 1948-1964, 28.05.01

The post war period in cross country was marked by several remarkable skiers. 

Martin Lundstrøm of Sweden won the 18k in 1948 while Nils Karlsson, also from Sweden, won the 50k. Not surprisingly Sweden won the relay as well.

Halgeir Brenden of Norway won the 18k in Oslo in 1952 while Veikko Hakulinen won the 50k and Finland won the relay.

Halgeir Brenden repeated the victory in 1956 in Cortina, now on the new 15k.  The new distance, the 30k, was won by the winner of the 50k from 1952, Veikko Hakulinen.  Famed Swede Sixten Jernberg won the 50k and Russia the relay.  This was the first Olympics for the Russians.

The 1960 games were held in high altitude in the state of California, USA, more recognized for surfing and sun.

Håkon Brusveen of Norway won the 15k, Sixten Jernberg the 30k and Kalevi Hemalainen the 50k.  Finland took the relay. 

In Innsbruck in 1964 the great Finnish skier Eero Mantyranta won the 15k and the 30k while Sixten Jernberg took the 50k and was a part of the Swedish team who won the relay.

Olympic XC Notes (3), 1968-1984, 01.06.01

In Grenoble in 1968 Norwegian Harald Grønningen won the 15k while his teammate Ole Ellefseter won the 50 and Italian sensation Franco Nones won the 30k.  Norway won the relay.

Inn 1972 the games were held in Asia for the first time, Swede Sven Åke Lundback won the 15k, Russian Vedenin the 30k and Norwegian Pål Tyldum the 50k.  The Soviet Union won the relay after Norway’s Harviken fell in the sprint.

After Denver pulled out, Innsbruck again hosted the games in 1976, Nikolay Bachukov won the 15k and Sergey Saveljev the 30k while Ivar Formo took the 50k. Finland won the relay.

In Lake Placid in 1980, Nikolay Zimjatov recorded 3 gold medals, the 30k, the 50k and the relay with Russia.  Thomas Wassberg beat Juha Mieto with 1/100 on the 15k.

Zimjatov won his 4th gold in the 1984 games in Sarajevo, winning the 30k, Gunde Svan won the 15k while Thomas Wassberg won the 50k with only 5 seconds on Svan.  Sweden won the relay.

Olympic XC Notes (4), 1988-1998, 04.06.01

Russian Devyatyarov won the 15k in Calgary in 1988 and his teammate Prokururov the 30k.  Svan took 2 more golds, in the 50k and in the relay, recording a total of 4 Olympic golds.

Albertville 1992 was all Norway, Vegard Ulvang winning the 30k and the 10k, Deahlie the pursuit and the 50k and both were on the winning relay team.

In Lillehammer 1994 Deahlie took 2 more golds, on the 10k and the pursuit.  Thomas Alsgaard won the 30k and Smirnov the 50k.  Italy and Fauner beat Norway and Deahlie in a sprint in the relay.

In Nagano in 1998 Deahlie took 3 more golds, the 10k, the 50k and the relay.  Thomas Alsgaard won the pursuit and Norway the relay, beating Italy in the sprint (Alsgaard vs. Fauner).

Olympic XC Notes (5), Tight race in Lake Placid Between Wassberg and Mieto

The games in Lake Placid in 1980 provided the tightest race ever in cross country skiing.  Thomas Wassberg of Sweden won the 15k classic by 1/100 of a second ahead of the great Finnish skier Juha Mieto.  Wassberg won later won the 50k in 1984 and the relay with Sweden in 1988. He also collected world championships titles in 1982 and 1987.

Mieto also got the silver on the 50k in Lahti.

Another great skier, Harri Kirvensiemi, did his first of 6 Olympics in Lake Placid, earning a bronze in the relay for Finland.

Olympic XC Notes (6), Zimjatov Won by 3 Minutes in XC, 4 Olympic Golds Total

Nikolay Zimjatov was one of the greatest cross country classic skiers ever.  The Russian won 3 gold medals in the 1980 Olympics, the 30k, the 50k and the relay.  He won the 50k by almost 3 minutes, the Russians had 4 in the top 6 on the 50k in 1980.

Zimjatov later went on to win the 30k in the 1984 games in Sarajevo as well.

Olympic XC Notes (7), World’s Best XC Skier Never Got Olympic Individual Medal.

Oddvar Brå, the world’s leading cross country skier in the 70's and early 80's, never won an Olympic gold.  His best individual performance came in 1988, in his 5th Olympics he placed 4th on the 15k classic in Calgary.

Brå started out early and captured 1 gold, 2 silver and a bronze from the European junior championships.

1972: won the first leg on the relay, earned a silver with the team.  Harviken on the last leg lead by over a minute on Russia but was caught.  Harviken fell in the sprint with Vedenin (Russia)..

1976: sick

1980: silver in the relay behind Russia.

1984 sick, asthma

1988: 4th on the 15k.

Brå did, however, collect 2 gold medals in the world championships on home soil in 1982.  Brå also was a great runner and ran the half marathon on 1.10.58 as late as in 1999.

He has a 13 individual world cup victories and won the overall world cup twice (almost 3 times).

Olympic XC Notes (8), Norwegian Coach Close to Gold in 1988

Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass, the Norwegian head coach for cross country, came close to a gold medal the last time the Olympics was held in the Americas.  In Calgary 1988, not that far from Salt Lake, Mikkelsplass captured the silver on the 15k classic.

Another great skier won the 30k, Alexey Prokururov, the Russian who still is active.

Olympic XC Notes (9), Deahlie Greatest Winter Olympian Ever

Bjørn Deahlie did participate in 3 Olympic games, 1992, 1994 and 1998, yet managed to earn a total of 8 gold medals, making him the most merited winter Olympian ever.  Speed skater Eric Heiden won 5 gold medals in the 1980 games and Matti Nykanen won 3 ski jumping golds in 1988.

Olympic Cross Country Notes (10)

The men’s 4x10k relay in cross country for men introduced in 1936

Change from 18k to 15k in 1956 in the men’s cross country.

The 30k was added in 1956

The Soviet Union (Russia) first participated in 1956 in Cortina.

Most winning, Bjørn Deahlie, 8 gold.

Thomas Wassberg 3 gold in a row from 1980 to 1888.

The pursuit was added in 1992.

The sprint will be added in 2002.

Olympic XC Notes Women (11) 1952- 1980, 27.05.01

Cross country for women was first allowed in 1952.

Lydia Wideman of Finland won the only race in Oslo in 1952, the 10k.

Lyobov Kozyreva won the 10k in 1956 and Finland the new 3X5k relay.

Mariya Gusakova of Russia won the 10k in 1960 while Sweden won the relay.

In 1964 Klavdiya Boyarskikh of Russia won the new 5k and the 10k, she also anchored the Russian’s relay team.

In 1968 Sweden dominated, Toini Gustavson winning the 5k and the 10k and Norway taking the relay.

Legendary Galina Kulakova won all 3 golds in 1972, the 5k, the 10k and the relay.

1976 saw 2 other famous names on top, Finland’s Helena Takalo taking the 5k and Russia’s Raisa Smetanina the 10k.  Russia also won the relay.

Smetanina recorded another gold in 1980, this time on the 5k while East German Barbara Petzold won the 10k and East Germany the relay.

Olympic XC Notes Women (12), 1984-1998, 28.05.01

Finland’s Marja Lisa Hemalainen won all golds in 1984, now also the 20k that had been included in the program.  Norway won the relay.

Marjo Matikainen won the 5k in 1988 while Russian Vida Venciene won the 10k and Tamara Tikhonova the 20k. Russia won the relay.

Another strong Finnish skier emerged in 1992, Marjut Lukkarinen winning the 5k.  The new event,t he pursuit, was won by Russian Yegorova who also won the 15k.  Italian skating expert Belmondo won the 30k and Russia the relay.

Yegorova was strong again in 1944, winning the 5k and the pursuit.  Italian Manuela de Zenta won the15k and the 30k, she also got the silver in the 2 other races. Russia won the relay.

Russia’s Lazutina finished a very strong decade for Russia, winning the 5, 10k pursuit and the relay for Russia.  Tschepalova won the 30 and Danilova the 15.

Olympic Ski Jumping Notes (1), 1924-1972

The pre was years in ski jumping were dominated by Norway, Jacob Tullin Tams winning in 1924, Alf Andersen in 1928, Birger Ruud in 1932 and 1936.

Norwegian Petter Haugstad won in 1948 and Arnfinn Bergmann in 1952.  Finland’s Antti Hyvarinen took the honors in 1956 while Helmut Rechnagel won the small hill in 1960.

Thoralf Engan won the large hill in 1964 and Veikko Kankkonen the normal hill.

Russian Vladimir Belousov took the large hill in 1968 while Jiri Raska won the normal hill.

Polish jumper Fortuna won the large hill by the smallest of margins in 1972, 1/10 ahead of Walter Steiner, 7/10 between the top 4.  Japan took the top 3 spots in the normal hill, lead by Kasaya.

Olympic Ski Jumping Notes (2), 1976-1998

Austria and East Germany dominated in 1976, Karl Schnabl of Austrian winning the large hill and East German Aschenbach the normal hill.

Finland’s Jauko Toermanen won the large hill and the legendary Austrian Toni Innauer the small hill.

The world’s best jumper ever, Finland’s Matti Nykaenen, took the honors in the large hill in 1984 while East German Weissflog won the small hill.

There was no stopping of Nykaenen in 1988, he won the 2 individual competitions and the new team competition with Finland.

1992 saw another Finish skier emerge, youngster Toni Nieminen won the large hill and Ernst Vettori the small hill.  Martin Høllwarth got 3 silver medals, Finland won the team competition

10 years after his victory in 1984 Jens Weissflog got another gold in the large hill at Lillehammer 1994.  Norwegian Espen Bredesen won the small hill while Weissflog got another gold with the German team.

Funaki won on home soil in the large hill in 1998 while Finland’s Soininen won the small hill and Japan the team competition in 1998.

US Olympian Wins 5 Gold on Home Soil

Eric Heiden, US speed skater, did the near impossible in the games on home soil in Lake Placid in 1980. 

Heiden won all 5 distances in the speed skating, the 500, 1 000, 1 500, 5 000 and 10 000 meters.  Heiden later went on to become a professional cyclist.  His sister Beth was also a great athlete, doing speed skating and cycling as well.

Marion Jones tried the same in the summer Olympics 2000, she got 3 gold.