Kristen Skjeldal (born 27 May 1967) is an Olympic champion and cross-country skier from Norway. He has won three olympic medals: two gold and one bronze. He won his first gold medal in the 4 × 10 km relay at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. He finished fourth in 30 km freestyle event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, but was awarded the bronze medal upon Spain's Johann Mühlegg EPO-doping disqualification. Subsequently, devices for blood doping were found at the hotel room of the doctor for the Austrian cross-country team. Since Skjeldal won the bronze behind two Austrians, many regard him as the real olympic champion. Skjeldal also won a gold medal in 4 × 10 km relay at those same games.
His best finish at the Nordic skiing World Championships was a sixth in the 50 km event in 1999. Skjeldal has also won thirteen cross-country skiing events of various distances between 1991 and 2006.
Skjeldal was still an active skier in 2005, located in his ski club in Bulken, Norway. His brother Gudmund Skjeldal also has participated in the Olympics.
In 2005 Gudmund published a biography about his brother, called Den siste langrennaren.
Almost 45 years old, Skjeldal did a remarkable comeback at the Norwegian Championship 2012, finishing eight at the 15 km free, beating all of the Norwegian team elite squad, except Martin Johnsrud Sundby, who won.
Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).
Olympic Games 3 medals – (2 gold, 1 bronze) Year Age 10 km 15 km Pursuit 30 km 50 km Sprint 4 × 10 km relay 1992 24 38 — 20 Gold 1994 26 — — 18 — — 2002 34 — 22 Bronze — — Gold
World Championships Year Age 10 km 15 km Pursuit 30 km 50 km Sprint 4 × 10 km relay Team sprint 1991 23 — 7 — 17 — 1995 27 26 18 — — — 1997 29 — — 8 — — 1999 31 — — 14 6 — 2001 33 — 10 — 10 — — 2003 35 — 22 — 24 — — 2005 37 — 7 7 — — —
World Cup Season standings Season Age Discipline standingsSki Tour standingsOverallDistanceLong DistanceMiddle DistanceSprintTour deSkiWorld CupFinal 1989 21 38 1990 22 38 1991 23 5 1992 24 8 1994 26 26 1995 27 11 1996 28 32 1997 29 7 12 5 1998 30 29 17 55 1999 31 19 10 25 2000 32 21 16 11 — 2001 33 9 — 2002 34 4 — 2003 35 22 — 2004 36 15 12 — 2005 37 26 15 — 2006 38 71 48 — 2007 39 124 71 — — 2008 40 119 65 ———
Individual podiums 1 victory 11 podiums No. Season Date Location Race Level Place1 1990–913 March 1991 Lahti, Finland 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st2 1991–92 14 December 1991 Thunder Bay, Canada 30 km Individual F World Cup 3rd3 1994–95 27 November 1994 Kiruna, Sweden 10 km Individual C World Cup 3rd4 1996–97 23 November 1996 Kiruna, Sweden 10 km Individual F World Cup 3rd5 14 December 1996 Brusson, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd6 2000–01 17 March 2001 Falun, Sweden 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd7 2001–02 12 January 2002 Nové Město, Czech Republic 10 km Individual F World Cup 3rd8 9 March 2002 Falun, Sweden 10 km + 10 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 3rd9 16 March 2002 Oslo, Norway 50 km Individual F World Cup 2nd10 2003–04 6 December 2003 Toblach, Italy 30 km Mass Start F World Cup 3rd11 2004–05 22 January 2005 Pragelato, Italy 15 km + 15 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 3rd
Team podiums 12 victories 22 podiums No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammates11990–91 1 March 1991 Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Langli / Skaanes / Dæhlie21991–92 18 February 1992 Albertville, France 4 × 10 km Relay C/F Olympic Games 1st Langli / Ulvang / Dæhlie3 28 February 1992 Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Langli / Ulvang / Dæhlie4 1993–94 4 March 1994 Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Eide / Kristiansen / Alsgaard51994–95 18 December 1994 Sappada, Italy 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Kristiansen / Dæhlie / Alsgaard6 26 March 1995 Sapporo, Japan 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Ulvang / Dæhlie / Alsgaard7 1995–96 1 March 1996 Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Eide / Kristiansen / Alsgaard8 1996–97 24 November 1996 Kiruna, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 3rd Eide / Ulvang / Dæhlie9 8 December 1996 Davos, Switzerland 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 3rd Ulvang / Eide / Sivertsen10 15 December 1996 Brusson, Italy 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Kristiansen / Eide / Dæhlie11 9 March 1997 Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Sivertsen / Jevne / Dæhlie12 1998–99 29 November 1998 Muonio, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Bjørndalen / Dæhlie / Hetland13 1999–00 28 November 1999 Kiruna, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 2nd Bjervig / Alsgaard / Hetland14 13 January 2000 Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Hjelmeset / Jevne / Alsgaard152000–01 26 November 2000 Beitostølen, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Bjonviken / Hjelmeset / Hetland16 9 December 2000 Santa Caterina, Italy 4 × 5 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Estil / Hetland / Alsgaard172001–02 10 March 2002 Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Estil / Aukland / Alsgaard18 2002–03 24 November 2002 Kiruna, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Aukland / Hetland / Alsgaard 19 8 December 2002 Davos, Switzerland 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Hjelmeset / Estil / Bjervig202003–04 14 December 2003 Davos, Switzerland 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Aukland / Estil / Hetland21 22 February 2004 Umeå, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Hjelmeset / Estil / Hofstad222004–05 20 March 2005 Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Svartedal / Hjelmeset / Hofstad
Note: Until the 1994 Olympics, Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.
References
External links
From the publisher Samlaget (in Norwegian)