Thomas Alsgaard
Norwegian cross-country skier
Thomas Alsgaard Thomas Alsgaard in April 2013
Country Norway Full name Thomas Alsgaard Born (1972-01-10 ) 10 January 1972 (age 52) Lørenskog , NorwayHeight 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Ski club Eidsvold Værks Skiklub Seasons 11 – (1993 –2003 ) Starts 110 Podiums 29 Wins 13 Overall titles 1 – (1998 ) Discipline titles 2 – (1 LD , 1 SP )
Thomas Alsgaard (born 10 January 1972) is a Norwegian former professional cross-country skier . Alsgaard is regarded by many as the best performer of the freestyle technique (skating) in cross-country skiing and many of today's best skiers have studied his technique. In total, Alsgaard won 15 medals in the Winter Olympics and FIS Nordic World Ski Championships , making him one of the most successful skiers of all time.
Early life
Born in Flateby , Enebakk , Alsgaard began cross-country ski racing at the age of three. That was when he was entered into a race against many 5-year-olds. He beat all of them. A year later, it was rumored that he was lost in the village the family lived in. In fact, he was found at the local ski area, just about to start his third time around a 9-kilometer loop. Alsgaard says that his passion for skiing comes from liking to be outdoors.
Athletic career
Alsgaard got his international breakthrough in the Lillehammer 1994 Winter Olympics winning the 30 kilometre freestyle event. In total, Alsgaard won 15 medals in the Winter Olympics and FIS Nordic World Ski Championships , making him one of the most successful skiers of all time. Excluding his World Championships debut in 1993, Alsgaard won at least one gold medal at every Olympic Games and World Championships that he participated from 1994 to 2003. Alsgaard retired from racing after the 2003 World Championships .
He won the Holmenkollen medal in 2001 (shared with Adam Małysz and Bente Skari ).
After his career as a professional skier
Alsgaard retired from racing in 2003. Between 2013 and 2017 he was the owner and manager of a ski team, Team LeasePlan .[ 1]
He now works as a technical advisor for Alpina Sports , working in the Nordic boot department.
He is also known as a sports commentator[ 2] for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation .
In the Norwegian Championship in January 2011, Alsgaard took a sensational bronze medal at the 15 km classical individual race, defeating many skiers on the Norwegian World Cup team. He was only beaten by Eldar Rønning (gold) and Martin Johnsrud Sundby (silver). He repeated the feat in 2012, expressing frustration with the lack of aggressiveness and initiative in both the younger elite athletes and the team surrounding them.[ 3]
Ski Classics team owner
As of December 2016 the team consists of four "allround" skiers and six skiers with langløp (or long races) as their specialty; Swede Lina Korsgren is the team's only female (as of 2016); Hans Kristian Stadheim assists in coaching.[ 4] On 21 April 2017, Alsgaard announced that Team LeasePlan had to shut down due to sponsorship problems.[ 5]
Cross-country skiing results
All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS) .[ 6]
Olympic Games
6 medals – (5 gold, 1 silver)
World Championships
9 medals – (6 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
Year
Age
10 km
15 km
Pursuit
30 km
50 km
Sprint
4 × 10 km relay
1993
21
—
—
—
—
DNF
—
—
1995
23
21
—
8
—
27
—
Gold
1997
25
11
—
4
Bronze
—
—
Gold
1999
27
14
—
Gold
Silver
—
—
Silver
2001
29
—
16
5
—
—
12
Gold
2003
31
—
—
—
Gold
—
41
Gold
World Cup
Season titles
3 titles – (1 overall, long distance, 1 sprint)
Season
Discipline
1998
Overall
Long Distance
Sprint
Season standings
Season
Age
Overall
Long Distance
Middle Distance
Sprint
1993
21
20
—
—
—
1994
22
7
—
—
—
1995
23
16
—
—
—
1996
24
8
—
—
—
1997
25
17
6
—
24
1998
26
—
1999
27
13
18
—
27
2000
28
5
4
8
—
2001
29
—
—
6
2002
30
—
—
21
2003
31
46
—
—
43
Individual podiums
No.
Season
Date
Location
Race
Level
Place
1
1993–94
14 February 1994
Lillehammer , Norway
30 km Individual F
Olympic Games[1]
1st
2
1994–95
8 January 1995
Östersund , Sweden
30 km Individual F
World Cup
3rd
3
25 March 1995
Sapporo , Japan
15 km Individual F
World Cup
3rd
4
1996–97
21 February 1997
Trondheim , Norway
30 km Individual F
World Championships[1]
3rd
5
1997–98
14 December 1997
Val di Fiemme , Italy
15 km Pursuit F
World Cup
2nd
6
16 December 1997
15 km Individual F
World Cup
2nd
7
20 December 1997
Davos , Switzerland
30 km Individual C
World Cup
2nd
8
3 January 1998
Kavgolovo , Russia
30 km Individual F
World Cup
2nd
9
8 January 1998
Ramsau , Austria
15 km Individual C
World Cup
1st
10
10 January 1998
30 km Individual F
World Cup
1st
11
8 March 1998
Lahti , Finland
30 km Individual C
World Cup
2nd
12
11 March 1998
Falun , Sweden
10 km Individual F
World Cup
1st
13
1998–99
19 February 1999
Ramsau , Austria
30 km Individual F
World Championships[1]
2nd
14
19 February 1999
15 km Pursuit F
World Championships[1]
1st
15
1999–00
27 November 1999
Kiruna , Sweden
10 km Individual C
World Cup
2nd
16
11 December 1999
Sappada , Italy
7.5 km + 15 km Duathlon C/F
World Cup
1st
17
9 January 2000
Moscow , Russia
30 km Individual F
World Cup
2nd
18
12 January 2000
Nové Město , Czech Republic
15 km Individual C
World Cup
1st
19
2000–01
25 November 2000
Beitostølen , Norway
15 km Individual C
World Cup
2nd
20
29 November 2000
10 km Individual F
World Cup
3rd
21
17 December 2000
Brusson , Italy
1.0 km Sprint F
World Cup
1st
22
10 February 2001
Otepää , Estonia
10 km Individual C
World Cup
1st
23
7 March 2001
Oslo , Norway
1.0 km Sprint C
World Cup
1st
24
2001–02
25 November 2001
Kuopio , Finland
10 km Individual F
World Cup
3rd
25
5 January 2002
Val di Fiemme , Italy
10 km + 10 km Duathlon C/F
World Cup
2nd
26
2 March 2002
Lahti , Finland
15 km Individual F
World Cup
2nd
27
9 March 2002
Falun , Sweden
10 km + 10 km Duathlon C/F
World Cup
1st
28
16 March 2002
Oslo , Norway
50 km Individual F
World Cup
1st
29
23 March 2002
Birkebeinerrennet , Norway
58 km Mass Start C
World Cup
1st
Team podiums
12 victories – (12 RL )
25 podiums – (24 RL , 1 TS )
No.
Season
Date
Location
Race
Level
Place
Teammate(s)
1
1993–94
22 February 1994
Lillehammer , Norway
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
Olympic Games[1]
2nd
Sivertsen / Ulvang / Dæhlie
2
4 March 1994
Lahti , Finland
4 × 10 km Relay C
World Cup
2nd
Skjeldal / Eide / E. Kristiansen
3
1994–95
18 December 1994
Sappada , Italy
4 × 10 km Relay F
World Cup
1st
E. Kristiansen / Skjeldal / Dæhlie
4
5 February 1995
Falun , Sweden
4 × 10 km Relay F
World Cup
1st
Sivertsen / Langli / Dæhlie
5
12 February 1995
Oslo , Norway
4 × 5 km Relay C/F
World Cup
3rd
Sivertsen / Jevne / B. Kristiansen
6
17 March 1995
Thunder Bay , Canada
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Championships[1]
1st
Sivertsen / Jevne / Dæhlie
7
26 March 1995
Sapporo , Japan
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
1st
Ulvang / Dæhlie / Skjeldal
8
1995–96
10 December 1995
Davos , Switzerland
4 × 10 km Relay C
World Cup
2nd
Sivertsen / Jevne / Dæhlie
9
14 January 1996
Nové Město , Czech Republic
4 × 10 km Relay C
World Cup
2nd
Ulvang / Jevne / Dæhlie
10
26 February 1996
Trondheim , Norway
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
1st
Ulvang / Jevne / Dæhlie
11
1 March 1996
Lahti , Finland
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
3rd
Skjeldal / Eide / E. Kristiansen
12
1996–97
28 February 1997
Trondheim , Norway
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Championships[1]
1st
Sivertsen / Jevne / Dæhlie
13
9 March 1997
Falun , Sweden
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
2nd
Hjelmeset / Skaanes / Sørgård
14
1997–98
23 November 1997
Beitostølen , Norway
4 × 10 km Relay C
World Cup
1st
Eide / Jevne / Dæhlie
15
6 March 1998
Lahti , Finland
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
2nd
Estil / Sivertsen / Eide
16
1998–99
26 February 1999
Ramsau , Austria
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Championships[1]
2nd
Bjervig / Jevne / Dæhlie
17
1999–00
28 November 1999
Kiruna , Sweden
4 × 10 km Relay F
World Cup
2nd
Bjervig / Skjeldal / Hetland
18
13 January 2000
Nové Město , Czech Republic
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
1st
Hjelmeset / Jevne / Skjeldal
19
2000–01
9 December 2000
Santa Caterina , Italy
4 × 5 km Relay C/F
World Cup
1st
Estil / Skjeldal / Hetland
20
2001–02
16 December 2001
Davos , Switzerland
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
3rd
Estil / Jevne / Hetland
21
10 March 2002
Falun , Sweden
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
1st
Estil / Aukland / Skjeldal
22
2002–03
24 November 2002
Kiruna , Sweden
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
2nd
Skjeldal / Aukland / Hetland
23
8 December 2002
Davos , Switzerland
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
1st
Aukland / Bjonviken / Hetland
24
19 January 2003
Nové Město , Czech Republic
4 × 10 km Relay C/F
World Cup
1st
Aukland / Estil / Hofstad
25
26 January 2003
Oberhof , Germany
10 × 1.5 km Team Sprint F
World Cup
3rd
Svartedal
Equipment
Alsgaard used skis from Madshus , one of Alpina 's partners, with Alpina boots and Rottefella bindings .
See also
References
10 km + 15 km combined 10 km + 10 km combined 15 km + 15 km pursuit / skiathlon
1936 : Sulo Nurmela , Klaes Karppinen , Matti Lähde , Kalle Jalkanen (FIN )
1948 : Nils Östensson , Nils Täpp , Gunnar Eriksson , Martin Lundström (SWE )
1952 : Heikki Hasu , Paavo Lonkila , Urpo Korhonen , Tapio Mäkelä (FIN )
1956 : Fyodor Terentyev , Pavel Kolchin , Nikolay Anikin , Vladimir Kuzin (URS )
1960 : Toimi Alatalo , Eero Mäntyranta , Väinö Huhtala , Veikko Hakulinen (FIN )
1964 : Karl-Åke Asph , Sixten Jernberg , Janne Stefansson , Assar Rönnlund (SWE )
1968 : Odd Martinsen , Pål Tyldum , Harald Grønningen , Ole Ellefsæter (NOR )
1972 : Vladimir Voronkov , Yuri Skobov , Fyodor Simashev , Vyacheslav Vedenin (URS )
1976 : Matti Pitkänen , Juha Mieto , Pertti Teurajärvi , Arto Koivisto (FIN )
1980 : Vasily Rochev , Nikolay Bazhukov , Yevgeny Belyayev , Nikolay Zimyatov (URS )
1984 : Thomas Wassberg , Benny Kohlberg , Jan Ottosson , Gunde Svan (SWE )
1988 : Jan Ottosson , Thomas Wassberg , Gunde Svan , Torgny Mogren (SWE )
1992 : Terje Langli , Vegard Ulvang , Kristen Skjeldal , Bjørn Dæhlie (NOR )
1994 : Maurilio De Zolt , Marco Albarello , Giorgio Vanzetta , Silvio Fauner (ITA )
1998 : Sture Sivertsen , Erling Jevne , Bjørn Dæhlie , Thomas Alsgaard (NOR )
2002 : Anders Aukland , Frode Estil , Kristen Skjeldal , Thomas Alsgaard (NOR )
2006 : Fulvio Valbusa , Giorgio Di Centa , Pietro Piller Cottrer , Cristian Zorzi (ITA )
2010 : Daniel Rickardsson , Johan Olsson , Anders Södergren , Marcus Hellner (SWE )
2014 : Lars Nelson , Daniel Rickardsson , Johan Olsson , Marcus Hellner (SWE )
2018 : Didrik Tønseth , Martin Johnsrud Sundby , Simen Hegstad Krüger , Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR )
2022 : Aleksey Chervotkin , Alexander Bolshunov , Denis Spitsov , Sergey Ustiugov (ROC )
10 km + 15 km combined 10 km + 10 km combined 10 km + 10 km double 15 km + 15 km double
1933: Per-Erik Hedlund , Sven Utterström , Nils-Joel Englund , Hjalmar Bergström
1934: Sulo Nurmela , Klaes Karppinen , Martti Lappalainen , Veli Saarinen
1935: Mikko Husu , Klaes Karppinen , Väinö Liikkanen , Sulo Nurmela
1937: Annar Ryen , Oskar Fredriksen , Sigurd Røen , Lars Bergendahl
1938: Jussi Kurikkala , Martti Lauronen , Pauli Pitkänen , Klaes Karppinen
1939: Pauli Pitkänen , Olavi Alakulppi , Eino Olkinuora , Klaes Karppinen
1950: Nils Täpp , Karl-Erik Åström , Martin Lundström , Enar Josefsson
1954: August Kiuru , Tapio Mäkelä , Arvo Viitanen , Veikko Hakulinen
1958: Sixten Jernberg , Lennart Larsson , Sture Grahn , Per-Erik Larsson
1962: Lars Olsson , Sture Grahn , Sixten Jernberg , Assar Rönnlund
1966: Odd Martinsen , Harald Grønningen , Ole Ellefsæter , Gjermund Eggen
1970: Vladimir Voronkov , Valery Tarakanov , Fyodor Simashev , Vyacheslav Vedenin
1974: Gerd Heßler , Dieter Meinel , Gerhard Grimmer , Gert-Dietmar Klause
1978: Sven-Åke Lundbäck , Christer Johansson , Tommy Limby , Thomas Magnuson
1982: Lars Erik Eriksen , Ove Aunli , Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass , Oddvar Brå 0 and Vladimir Nikitin , Oleksandr Batyuk , Yuriy Burlakov , Alexander Zavyalov
1985: Arild Monsen , Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass , Tor Håkon Holte , Ove Aunli
1987: Erik Östlund , Gunde Svan , Thomas Wassberg , Torgny Mogren
1989: Christer Majbäck , Gunde Svan , Lars Håland , Torgny Mogren
1991: Øyvind Skaanes , Terje Langli , Vegard Ulvang , Bjørn Dæhlie
1993: Sture Sivertsen , Vegard Ulvang , Terje Langli , Bjørn Dæhlie
1995: Sture Sivertsen , Erling Jevne , Bjørn Dæhlie , Thomas Alsgaard
1997: Sture Sivertsen , Erling Jevne , Bjørn Dæhlie , Thomas Alsgaard
1999: Markus Gandler , Alois Stadlober , Mikhail Botvinov , Christian Hoffmann
2001: Frode Estil , Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset , Thomas Alsgaard , Tor Arne Hetland
2003: Anders Aukland , Frode Estil , Tore Ruud Hofstad , Thomas Alsgaard
2005 : Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset , Frode Estil , Lars Berger , Tore Ruud Hofstad
2007 : Eldar Rønning , Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset , Lars Berger , Petter Northug
2009 : Eldar Rønning , Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset , Tore Ruud Hofstad , Petter Northug
2011 : Martin Johnsrud Sundby , Eldar Rønning , Tord Asle Gjerdalen , Petter Northug
2013 : Tord Asle Gjerdalen , Eldar Rønning , Sjur Røthe , Petter Northug
2015 : Niklas Dyrhaug , Didrik Tønseth , Anders Gløersen , Petter Northug
2017 : Didrik Tønseth , Niklas Dyrhaug , Martin Johnsrud Sundby , Finn Hågen Krogh
2019 : Emil Iversen , Martin Johnsrud Sundby , Sjur Røthe , Johannes Høsflot Klæbo
2021 : Pål Golberg , Emil Iversen , Hans Christer Holund , Johannes Høsflot Klæbo
2023 : Hans Christer Holund , Pål Golberg , Simen Hegstad Krüger , Johannes Høsflot Klæbo
Note: Until 1981/82, World Cup was being held unofficially.
Until 1900 1900–1950
1901: Aksel Refstad (NOR)
1903: Karl Hovelsen (NOR)
1904: Harald Smith (NOR)
1905: Jonas Holmen (NOR)
1907: Per Bakken
1908: Einar Kristiansen (NOR)
1909: Thorvald Hansen
1910: Lauritz Bergendahl
1911: Otto Tangen (NOR), Knut Holst (NOR)
1912: Olav Bjaaland (NOR)
1914: Johan Kristoffersen (NOR)
1915: Sverre Østbye (NOR)
1916: Lars Høgvold (NOR)
1918: Hassa Horn (NOR), Jørgen Hansen (NOR)
1919: Thorleif Haug (NOR), Otto Aasen (NOR)
1923: Thoralf Strømstad (NOR)
1924: Harald Økern (NOR), Johan Grøttumsbråten (NOR)
1925: Einar Landvik (NOR)
1926: Jacob Tullin Thams
1927: Hagbart Haakonsen (NOR), Einar Lindboe (NOR)
1928: Torjus Hemmestveit (NOR), Mikkjel Hemmestveit (NOR)
1931: Hans Vinjarengen (NOR), Ole Stenen (NOR)
1934: Oddbjørn Hagen (NOR)
1935: Arne Rustadstuen (NOR)
1937: Olaf Hoffsbakken (NOR), Birger Ruud (NOR), Martin P. Vangsli (NOR)
1938: Reidar Andersen (NOR), Johan R. Henriksen (NOR)
1939: Sven Selånger (SWE), Lars Bergendahl (NOR), Trygve Brodahl (NOR)
1940: Oscar Gjøslien (NOR), Annar Ryen (NOR)
1947: Elling Rønes (NOR)
1948: Asbjørn Ruud (NOR)
1949: Sigmund Ruud (NOR)
1950: Olav Økern (NOR)
1951–2000
1951: Simon Slåttvik (NOR)
1952: Stein Eriksen (NOR), Torbjørn Falkanger (NOR), Heikki Hasu (FIN), Nils Karlsson (SWE)
1953: Magnar Estenstad (NOR)
1954: Martin Stokken (NOR)
1955: Haakon VII (NOR), Hallgeir Brenden (NOR), Veikko Hakulinen (FIN), Sverre Stenersen (NOR)
1956: Borghild Niskin (NOR), Arnfinn Bergmann (NOR), Arne Hoel (NOR)
1957: Eero Kolehmainen (FIN)
1958: Inger Bjørnbakken (NOR), Håkon Brusveen (NOR)
1959: Gunder Gundersen (NOR)
1960: Helmut Recknagel (GDR), Sixten Jernberg (SWE), Sverre Stensheim (NOR), Tormod Knutsen (NOR)
1961: Harald Grønningen (NOR)
1962: Toralf Engan (NOR)
1963: Alevtina Kolchina (URS), Pavel Kolchin (URS), Astrid Sandvik (NOR), Torbjørn Yggeseth (NOR)
1964: Veikko Kankkonen (FIN), Eero Mäntyranta (FIN), Georg Thoma (FRG), Halvor Næs (NOR)
1965: Arto Tiainen (FIN), Bengt Eriksson (SWE), Arne Larsen (NOR)
1967: Toini Gustafsson (SWE), Ole Ellefsæter (NOR)
1968: Olav V (NOR), Assar Rönnlund (SWE), Gjermund Eggen (NOR), Bjørn Wirkola (NOR)
1969: Odd Martinsen (NOR)
1970: Pål Tyldum (NOR)
1971: Marjatta Kajosmaa (FIN), Berit Mørdre (NOR), Reidar Hjermstad (NOR)
1972: Rauno Miettinen (FIN), Magne Myrmo (NOR)
1973: Einar Bergsland (NOR), Ingolf Mork (NOR), Franz Keller (FRG)
1974: Juha Mieto (FIN)
1975: Gerhard Grimmer (GDR), Oddvar Brå (NOR), Ivar Formo (NOR)
1976: Ulrich Wehling (GDR)
1977: Helena Takalo (FIN), Hilkka Kuntola (FIN), Walter Steiner (SUI)
1979: Ingemar Stenmark (SWE), Erik Håker (NOR), Raisa Smetanina (URS)
1980: Thomas Wassberg (SWE)
1981: Johan Sætre (NOR)
1983: Berit Aunli (NOR), Tom Sandberg (NOR)
1984: Lars Erik Eriksen (NOR), Jakob Vaage (NOR), Armin Kogler (AUT)
1985: Anette Bøe (NOR), Per Bergerud (NOR), Gunde Svan (SWE)
1986: Brit Pettersen (NOR)
1987: Matti Nykänen (FIN), Hermann Weinbuch (FRG)
1989: Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi (FIN)
1991: Vegard Ulvang (NOR), Trond Einar Elden (NOR), Ernst Vettori (AUT), Jens Weißflog (GER)
1992: Yelena Välbe (RUS)
1993: Emil Kvanlid (NOR)
1994: Lyubov Yegorova (RUS), Vladimir Smirnov (KAZ), Espen Bredesen (NOR)
1995: Kenji Ogiwara (JPN)
1996: Manuela Di Centa (ITA)
1997: Bjarte Engen Vik (NOR), Stefania Belmondo (ITA), Bjørn Dæhlie (NOR)
1998: Fred Børre Lundberg (NOR), Larisa Lazutina (RUS), Alexey Prokurorov (RUS), Harri Kirvesniemi (FIN)
1999: Kazuyoshi Funaki (JPN)
Since 2001
2001: Adam Małysz (POL), Bente Skari (NOR), Thomas Alsgaard (NOR)
2003: Felix Gottwald (AUT), Ronny Ackermann (GER)
2004: Yuliya Chepalova (RUS)
2005: Andrus Veerpalu (EST)
2007: Frode Estil (NOR), Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset (NOR), Harald V (NOR), Sonja (NOR), Simon Ammann (SUI)
2010: Marit Bjørgen (NOR)
2011: Ole Einar Bjørndalen (NOR), Michael Greis (GER), Andrea Henkel (GER), Janne Ahonen (FIN)
2012: Magdalena Neuner (GER), Emil Hegle Svendsen (NOR)
2013: Tora Berger (NOR), Martin Fourcade (FRA), Therese Johaug (NOR), Gregor Schlierenzauer (AUT)
2014: Magnus Moan (NOR), Eric Frenzel (GER), Thomas Morgenstern (AUT), Darya Domracheva (BLR)
2015: Eldar Rønning (NOR), Anders Bardal (NOR), Anette Sagen (NOR), Kamil Stoch (POL)
2016: Noriaki Kasai (JPN), Tarjei Bø (NOR)
2017: Marie Dorin Habert (FRA), Sara Takanashi (JPN)
2018: Charlotte Kalla (SWE), Princess Astrid (NOR), Hannu Manninen (FIN), Kaisa Mäkäräinen (FIN)
2021: Maren Lundby (NOR), Johannes Thingnes Bø (NOR), Dario Cologna (SWI), Johannes Rydzek (GER)
2022: Tiril Eckhoff (NOR), Marte Olsbu Røiseland (NOR), Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR), Jørgen Graabak (NOR)
2023: Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR), Stefan Kraft (AUT)
2024: Jessie Diggins (USA), Simen Hegstad Krüger (NOR)