Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset

Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset (born 6 December 1971 in Nordfjordeid) is a Norwegian former cross-country skier who competed from 1993 to 2012.

A classical technique specialist, Hjelmeset's biggest success is the gold medal in the 50 km event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2007 in Sapporo. At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships he won eight medals (all in the classical style). This includes five gold medals (50 km: 2007, 4 × 10 km relay: 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009) and three bronze medals (1999: 10 km, 2001: 15 km, and 2005: 50 km).

Hjelmeset has also competed on the national level in athletics, and won the bronze medal at the Norwegian championships in the 3000 metre steeplechase in 1996 and 1999.

The 2007 season was Hjelmeset's best. He won two gold medals at the World Championships in Sapporo, then a World Cup race in Lahti, before winning the 50 km individual start in Holmenkollen where he had won the sprint event in 2000. Hjelmeset was awarded the Holmenkollen medal in 2007 (Shared with Frode Estil, King Harald V, and Queen Sonja).

He retired after he failed to qualify for the 2011 Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo. He last World Cup race was the 50 kilometre at the 2012 Holmenkollen Ski Festival, where he finished 52nd.

Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games 2 medals – (1 silver, 1 bronze) Year Age 15 km Pursuit 30 km 50 km Sprint 4 × 10 km relay Team sprint 2002 30 20 — — Bronze — — 2006 34 27 — — — 5 — 2010 38 — — 17 — Silver —

World Championships 8 medals – (5 gold, 3 bronze) Year Age 10 km 15 km Pursuit 30 km 50 km Sprint 4 × 10 km relay Team sprint 1999 27 Bronze 17 — 28 — 2001 29 Bronze — 5 — — Gold 2003 31 10 8— — — 2005 33 — Bronze 5 Gold — 2007 35 — — Gold 7 Gold — 2009 37 15 — — — Gold —

World Cup Season standings Season Age Discipline standingsSki Tour standingsOverallDistanceLong DistanceMiddle DistanceSprintNordicOpeningTour deSkiWorld CupFinal 1993 21 100 1994 22 1995 23 77 1996 24 48 1997 25 38 34 46 1998 26 20 11 27 1999 27 17 29 11 2000 28 17 5 2001 29 5 13 2002 30 25 74 2003 31 25 26 2004 32 35 34 26 2005 33 14 17 19 2006 34 18 39 14 2007 35 5 16 2008 36 18 12 40 22 — 2009 37 72 45 —— 2010 38 98 57 —— 2011 39 124 76 ———— 2012 40 ————

Individual podiums 9 victories (8 , 1 ) 21 podiums (19 , 2 )

Note: Until the 1999 World Championships, World Championship races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

Team podiums 8 victories (8 ) 17 podiums (16 , 1 )