Norway at the 2006 Winter Olympics

Norway sent 74 athletes to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. At the 2002 Winter Olympics Norway won the most gold medals, and before the Turin games, Norwegian sports officials were aiming for more than the 25 medals they won in Salt Lake City — the president of the Norwegian Skiing Federation Sverre Seeberg was quoted saying he thought Norway would win 25 medals in the skiing events alone (alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined and ski jumping). Tror på 25 OL-medaljer from NRK, accessed 20 December 2005. The Norwegian Olympic Committee aimed for Norway to be the best nation measured in the number of gold medals. However, Norway won only two gold medals in the games, the lowest amount since 1988.

In addition to the skiing events, Norway also qualified athletes in biathlon, curling, skeleton, snowboarding and speed skating. In addition to IOC qualifying times, the Norwegian Olympic Committee have required that athletes need to place themselves once in the top six or twice in the top twelve in major individual events in the sport to be selected. OL-billetten glapp for Rune Stordahl from Bergens Tidende, accessed 21 December 2005. Curler Pål Trulsen served as flag bearer at the opening ceremony.

Medalists

|width="70%" align="left" valign="top"| MedalNameSportEvent Alpine skiing Men's super-G Ski jumping Normal hill Biathlon Men's sprint Biathlon Men's pursuit Biathlon Men's individual Cross-country skiing Men's 30 km pursuit Cross-country skiing Women's 10 km classical Jens Arne Svartedal Cross-country skiing Men's team sprint Freestyle skiing Women's moguls Nordic combined Sprint Biathlon Men's sprint Biathlon Men's mass start Biathlon Men's individual Cross-country skiing Women's 10 km classical Nordic combined Individual Ski jumping Normal hill Ski jumping Large hill Bjørn Einar Romøren Tommy Ingebrigtsen Roar Ljøkelsøy Ski jumping Team Snowboarding Women's halfpipe |width="30%" align="left" valign="top"|

Medals by sportSportTotalSki jumping 1034Alpine skiing1001Biathlon 0336Cross-country skiing0314Nordic combined0112Freestyle skiing 0101Snowboarding0011Total28919

Alpine skiing

AthleteEventFinalRun 1Run 2Run 3TotalRankKjetil André AamodtMen's downhilln/a1:49.884Men's super-Gn/a1:30.65Men's combineddid not startHans-Petter BuraasMen's slalomdid not finishKjetil JansrudMen's giant slalom1:19.32did not startMen's combined1:41.5546.0244.753:12.3210Lasse KjusMen's downhilln/a1:50.6414Men's super-Gn/a1:31.7914Men's giant slalom1:18.731:20.58n/a2:39.3118Men's combined1:39.63did not finish Lars Elton MyhreMen's slalomdid not finishBjarne SolbakkenMen's downhilln/a1:51.7229Men's super-Gn/a1:32.9026Men's giant slalom1:19.151:20.46n/a2:39.6120Aksel Lund SvindalMen's downhilln/a1:50.9021Men's super-Gn/a1:31.105Men's giant slalom1:17.101:18.96n/a2:36.066Men's slalom54.97did not finishMen's combined1:39.26did not finish

Note: In the men's combined, run 1 is the downhill, and runs 2 and 3 are the slalom. In the women's combined, run 1 and 2 are the slalom, and run 3 the downhill.

Biathlon

Men AthleteEventFinalTimeMissesRankFrode AndresenSprint26:31.31Pursuit36:16.9766Mass start49:03.6619Individual57:10.2315Ole Einar BjørndalenSprint27:25.5311Pursuit35:22.966Mass start47:32.33Individual54:39.02Stian EckhoffSprint27:48.0216Pursuit38:00.28621Individual57:11.8316Halvard HanevoldSprint26:19.80Pursuit35:57.7435Mass start48:14.937Individual55:31.92Emil Hegle SvendsenMass start48:13.826Halvard HanevoldStian EckhoffFrode AndresenOle Einar BjørndalenRelay1:23:03.6115

Women AthleteEventFinalTimeMissesRankGunn Margit AndreassenIndividual59:04.3660Tora BergerSprint24:05.8123Pursuit40:44.82318Mass start45:23.2325Individual52:53.4213Gro Marit Istad KristiansenSprint24:34.0140Pursuit43:41.59740Liv Grete Skjelbreid-PoiréeSprint23:20.0212Pursuit39:03.4346Mass start43:43.8418Individual52:22.039Linda GrubbenSprint23:48.5119Pursuit40:19.89415Mass start42:46.5314Individual56:47.8650Tora BergerLiv Grete Skjelbreid-PoiréeGunn Margit AndreassenLinda GrubbenRelay1:19:34.4145

Cross-country skiing

On 9 January the selection of four male athletes for the sprint event was made public. - Pallplass er målsettingen from VG, accessed 10 January 2006. Following the conclusion of the individual events at the 2006 Norwegian Championships, a further thirteen skiers were selected. Ikke OL for Skofterud, from VG, published 22 January 2006.

The Norwegian director of cross-country skiing sport, Bjørnar Håkensmoen, received "terribly many" reactions after he announced the team on 21 January, and the following day the newspaper Aftenposten asked him whether he "regretted" not selecting Petter Northug, who had won both the double pursuit and the relay (as part of a team representing Strindheim IL) at the Norwegian Skiing Championship. Angrer du på uttaket? from Aftenposten, published 22 January 2006.

Distance

Men AthleteEventFinalTotalRankJan Egil Andresen30 km pursuit 1:19:29.8 2750 km freestyle 2:08:43.7 41Anders Aukland15 km classical 39:53.6 2030 km pursuit 1:19:30.6 28Frode Estil15 km classical 39:39.6 1630 km pursuit 1:17:01.4 50 km freestyle 2:07:06.1 28Tord Asle Gjerdalen30 km pursuit 1:17:36.2 1850 km freestyle 2:06:26.2 15Tor Arne Hetland50 km freestyle 2:07:36.2 33Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset15 km classical 40:31.3 28Jens Arne Svartedal15 km classical 41:32.4 45Jens Arne SvartedalOdd-Bjørn HjelmesetFrode EstilTore Ruud Hofstad4 x 10 km relay 1:44:56.3 5

Women AthleteEventFinalTotalRankMarit Bjørgen10 km classical 28:12.7 15 km pursuit Did not finishElla Gjømle30 km freestyle 1:28:28.2 29Hilde Gjermundshaug Pedersen10 km classical 28:14.0 15 km pursuit 43:40.5 10Kristin Størmer Steira10 km classical 28:21.0 415 km pursuit 43:06.8 430 km freestyle 1:22:40.8 4Kristin Mürer Stemland10 km classical 29:20.5 1215 km pursuit 44:59.2 1930 km freestyle 1:27:05.9 24Kristin Størmer SteiraHilde Gjermundshaug PedersenKristin Mürer StemlandMarit Bjørgen4 x 5 km relay 55:21.8 5

Sprint AthleteEventQualifyingQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalTotalRankTotalRankTotalRankTotalRankMarit BjørgenWomen's sprint 2:16.38 17 Q 2:16.8 4 Did not advance 18Ella GjømleWomen's sprint 2:16.02 13 Q 2:15.7 2 Q 2:16.4 4 Final B2:18.2 6Ola Vigen HattestadMen's sprint 2:17.26 12 Q 2:23.1 1 Q 2:29.0 5 Did not advance 9Tor Arne HetlandMen's sprint 2:17.91 15 Q 2:26.1 2 Q 2:43.2 5 Did not advance 10 Trond IversenMen's sprint 2:16.25 7 Q 2:22.5 4 Q Did not advance 17Johan KjølstadMen's sprint 2:15.11 3 Q 2:20.2 1 Q 2:27.1 4 Final B2:25.6 7Hilde Gjermundshaug PedersenWomen's sprint 2:17.17 23 Q 2:19.1 6 Did not advance 28Tor Arne HetlandJens Arne SvartedalMen's team sprint n/a 17:22.1 1 Q 17:03.5 Marit BjørgenElla GjømleWomen's team sprint n/a 17:14.4 1 Q 16:48.1 4

Curling

The curling teams for men and women were nominated following the 2005 European Curling Championships, where Pål Trulsen and his team won gold for men, while Dordi Nordby finished fourth with her team.

Trulsen's team were the reigning Olympic champions, while Nordby had finished seventh in 2002 and fifth in 1998. Dordi Nordby og curling, kvinner, from NRK, accessed 20 December 2005.

Men's

Team: Pål Trulsen (skip), Lars Vågberg, Flemming Davanger, Bent Ånund Ramsfjell, Torger Nergård (alternate)

Round Robin Draw 1 ;Draw 3 ;Draw 4 ;Draw 5 ;Draw 6 ;Draw 7 ;Draw 9 ;Draw 10 ;Draw 11

Standings RankTeamSkipWonLost1 Markku Uusipaavalniemi722Brad Gushue633 Pete Fenson634David Murdoch635 Pål Trulsen546 Ralph Stockli547 Joel Retornaz458Peter Lindholm369Andy Kapp3610Sean Becker09

Women's

Team: Dordi Nordby (skip), Marianne Haslum, Marianne Rørvik, Camilla Holth, Charlotte Hovring (alternate)

Round Robin Draw 1 ;Draw 2 ;Draw 3 ;Draw 4 ;Draw 6 ;Draw 7 ;Draw 9 ;Draw 11 ;Draw 12

Standings RankTeamSkipWonLost1 Anette Norberg722Mirjam Ott723 Shannon Kleibrink634Dordi Nordby635 Rhona Martin546 Ludmila Privivkova547 Ayumi Onodera458Dorthe Holm279Cassandra Johnson2710Diana Gaspari18

Playoffs Semifinal ;Bronze Final

Key: The hammer indicates which team had the last stone in the first end.

Freestyle skiing

AthleteEventQualifyingFinalPointsRankPointsRankIngrid BerntsenWomen's moguls22.4514 Q19.8419Kari TraaWomen's moguls24.067 Q25.65

Nordic combined

AthleteEventSki jumpingCross-countryPointsRankDeficitTimeRankKristian HammerSprint94.3412:0620:08.1 +1:39.128Individual Gundersen183.0445:1844:50.8 +5:06.235Håvard KlemetsenSprint98.0341:5121:06.6 +2:37.640Individual Gundersen229.0152:1443:00.5 +3:15.920Magnus MoanSprint111.8130:5618:34.4 +5.4Individual Gundersen237.591:4040:00.8 +16.2Petter TandeSprint118.250:3018:59.1 +30.16Individual Gundersen262.020:0240:00.9 +16.34Kristian HammerHåvard KlemetsenMagnus MoanPetter TandeTeamdid not start

Note: 'Deficit' refers to the amount of time behind the leader a competitor began the cross-country portion of the event. Italicized numbers show the final deficit from the winner's finishing time.

Skeleton

AthleteEventFinalRun 1Run 2TotalRankDesiree BjerkeWomen's1:00.921:01.702:02.629

Ski jumping

AthleteEventQualifyingFirst roundFinalPointsRankPointsRankPointsTotalRankLars BystølNormal hill0.0PQ131.06 Q135.5266.5Large hill129.26 PQ121.55 Q129.2250.7Roar LjøkelsøyNormal hill120.510 PQ132.05 Q132.5264.5Large hill114.110 PQ127.83 Q115.0242.84Sigurd PettersenNormal hilldisqualifiedLarge hill115.92 Q106.317 Q96.2202.524Bjørn Einar RomørenNormal hill118.012 PQ125.515 Q122.5248.015Large hill120.98 PQ121.84 Q116.4238.27Lars BystølBjørn Einar RomørenTommy IngebrigtsenRoar LjøkelsøyTeamn/a452.43 Q497.7650.1

Note: PQ indicates a skier was pre-qualified for the final, based on entry rankings.

Snowboarding

Halfpipe AthleteEventQualifying run 1Qualifying run 2FinalPointsRankPointsRankRun 1Run 2RankFrederik AustbøMen's halfpipe29.21813.032did not advance38Kjersti BuaasWomen's halfpipe19.22141.92 Q(40.9)42.0Halvor LunnMen's halfpipe24.22526.424did not advance30Kim ChristiansenMen's halfpipe31.0165.135did not advance41

Note: In the final, the single best score from two runs is used to determine the ranking. A bracketed score indicates a run that wasn't counted.

Speed skating

Men

AthleteEventRace 1FinalTimeRankTimeRankPetter Andersen1000 mn/a1:10.38181500 mn/a1:47.157Håvard Bøkko1500 mdid not finishEskil Ervik5000 mn/a6:26.911010000 mn/a13:37.6211Mikael Flygind-Larsen1000 mn/a1:10.13141500 mn/a1:47.288Øystein Grødum5000 mn/a6:24.21810000 mn/a13:12.584 Lasse Sætre5000 mn/a6:25.15910000 mn/a13:12.935Even Wetten1000 mn/a1:10.57231500 mn/a1:47.7810

Women AthleteEventRace 1FinalTimeRankTimeRankAnnette Bjelkevik1500 mn/a2:01.03173000 mn/a4:17.5737 Hedvig Bjelkevik1500 mn/a2:02.1626Maren Haugli1500 mn/a2:01.22193000 mn/a4:12.50155000 mn/a7:06.088

Team pursuit AthleteEventSeedingQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalTimeRankOpposition TimeOpposition TimeOpposition TimeRankFrom: Eskil ErvikØystein GrødumLasse SætreHåvard BøkkoMikael Flygind-LarsenMen's team pursuit3:49.554 (4)W 3:47.81 (1)L 3:47.81Bronze final (3)L 3:45.964From: Annette BjelkevikHedvig BjelkevikMaren HaugliWomen's team pursuit3:06.342 (7)L Overtakendid not finish7th place final (8)W 3:06.207

Trivia

"Partly Norwegian" medal(ist)s

In the Norwegian media, two gold and one silver medal won by foreign athletes were humorously presented as part-Norwegian medals, since the medalists in question were of Norwegian descent or family: Women's snowboard cross gold medalist Tanja Frieden has a dual Swiss-Norwegian citizenship (mother is Norwegian) and speaks the language. Women's skeleton gold medalist Maya Pedersen, also of Switzerland, lives in Øyer Municipality, Norway, with her Norwegian husband, Snorre Pedersen. Women's 1,500 m speed skating silver medalist Kristina Groves, of Canada, is of Norwegian descent (many relatives in Stjørdal Municipality, Norway).

Grateful Canadian XC ski fans