Kristen Skjeldal

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

Team podiums 12 victories 22 podiums

Note: Until the 1994 Olympics, Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.