Jan Ottosson (born 10 March 1960 in Högsäter, Dalsland) is a former Swedish cross-country skier. A national team skier, he also represented Åsarna IK during the 1980s and early 1990s. He won two gold medals in the 4 × 10 km relay at the Winter Olympics (1984 and 1988), providing some of the most iconic and impressive legs of Swedish Olympic history. Additionally, he finished sixth in the 50 km event at the 1988 Winter Olympics, sixth in the 15 km event at the 1991 Nordic skiing World Championships, won eight individual Swedish championships, and won ten Swedish championship gold medals in the relays. Ottosson in best known is for winning the Vasaloppet four times in (1989, 1991, 1992, 1994). After his active career with the Åsarnas squad, Ottosson now works as an official on the Bergs ski center. Currently, Ottosson runs his own Vasaloppet training program, where the former champion helps others prepare for the race. Ottosson also owns a state-of-the-art ski grinding machine and a ski waxing business which the former champion uses to perfect patrons' skis for Vasaloppet race conditions.
Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).
Olympic Games 2 medals – (2 gold) Year Age 10 km 15 km Pursuit 30 km 50 km 4 × 10 km relay 1984 23 — 16 14 Gold 1988 27 16 16 6 Gold 1992 31 — — 11 44 4 1994 33 14 15 — 18 6
World Championships Year Age 10 km 15 km classical 15 km freestyle Pursuit 30 km 50 km 4 × 10 km relay 1982 21 9 — —5 1985 24 — 30 —— 1987 26 — — 10— 1989 28 — 19 12—— 1991 30 — 6 26 7 — 1993 32 — — 15 10 6
World Cup Season standings Season Age Overall 1982 22 7 1983 23 30 1984 24 9 1985 25 28 1986 26 12 1987 27 26 1988 28 8 1989 29 17 1990 30 9 1991 31 16 1992 32 42 1993 33 13 1994 34 23
Individual podiums 1 victory 5 podiums No. Season Date Location Race Level Place1 1982–83 14 January 1983 Reit im Winkl, West Germany 15 km Individual World Cup 1st 2 1983–84 16 December 1983 Ramsau, Austria 30 km Individual World Cup 3rd3 1984–85 3 March 1985 Lahti, Finland 50 km Individual World Cup 2nd4 1987–88 19 December 1987 Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd5 1990–91 9 March 1991 Falun, Sweden 30 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
Team podiums 6 victories 9 podiums No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammates11983–84 16 February 1984 Sarajevo, Yugoslavia 4 × 10 km Relay Olympic Games1st Wassberg / Kohlberg / Svan2 26 February 1984 Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay World Cup 1st Östlund / Wassberg / Svan3 1986–87 19 March 1987 Oslo, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 1st Wassberg / Mogren / Eriksson4 1987–8824 February 1988 Calgary, Canada 4 × 10 km Relay F Olympic Games 1st Wassberg / Svan / Mogren 5 13 March 1988 Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Svan / Mogren / Majbäck6 17 March 1988 Oslo, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Mogren / Majbäck / Svan 7 1989–90 1 March 1990 Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 3rd Forsberg / Mogren / Håland8 11 March 1990 Örnsköldsvik, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Majbäck / Forsberg / Mogren9 1991–92 8 March 1992 Funäsdalen, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 3rd Ponsiluoma / Mogren / Forsberg
Note: Until the 1994 Winter Olympics, Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.
References
External links Factmonster information on cross country skiing Olympic champions 1924-2002, including Ottosson