Ole Einar Bjoerndalen Biography
Liked Target Shooting, Power Of Positive Thinking, Supreme At Soldier Hollow, Elevates Biathlon Status
1974-
Norwegian biathlete
Ole Einar Bjoerndalen listened to a vacuum cleaner salesman, then cleaned up at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Bjoerndalen, from Norway, won four gold medals in the biathlon, an event that combines cross-country skiing with target shooting. Amid an Olympiad that featured the stunning success of American figure skater Sarah Hughes, an enthralling gold-medal hockey game and a judging scandal in ice dancing, Bjoerndalen drew attention to an event many consider on the far fringe of sport.
Bjoerndalen took the gold in the 10-kilometer sprint, 20-kilometer individual, 12.5 km pursuit, and the 4×7.5 km relay. He became only the third person to win at least four gold medals in one winter Olympiad; speed skaters Eric Heiden of the United States and Lydia Skoblikova of Russia won five and four in 1980 and 1964, respectively. He credits Oyvind Hammer, a Dick Vitale style pitchman for Filter Queen vacuums and motivational speaker on the side, for elevating his confidence and consistency.
Sketch by Paul Burton
Additional topics
- Uschi Disl Biography - Trained As Teen, Won First Olympic Gold, Awards And Accomplishments, Further Information - CONTACT INFORMATION
- Myriam Bedard Biography - Introduced To Biathlon, Won First Championships, Won Big Competitions, Won Olympic Gold, Could Not Return To Form
- Ole Einar Bjoerndalen - Liked Target Shooting
- Ole Einar Bjoerndalen - Power Of Positive Thinking
- Ole Einar Bjoerndalen - Supreme At Soldier Hollow
- Ole Einar Bjoerndalen - Elevates Biathlon Status
- Ole Einar Bjoerndalen - Chronology
- Ole Einar Bjoerndalen - Awards And Accomplishments
- Ole Einar Bjoerndalen - Further Information
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