Ingemar Stenmark
(IOC)
Updated: 2007-07-26 09:16
Nakiska, 27 February 1988. Men's alpine skiing: Ingemar STENMARK of Sweden 5th, performs in the slalom event during the XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections/MAEDER Jean-Paul
Born: 18 March 1956
Birthplace: Lapland (Sweden)
Nationality: Sweden
Sport: Skiing
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Innsbruck 1976
Lake Placid 1980
Calgary 1988
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 2
Bronze: 1
Other results:
World Championships
Gold: 3 (78, 82)
Silver: 1 (82)
The Most Successful Alpine Skier in History
The most successful Alpine ski racer in history, Ingemar Stenmark eventually won 86 World Cup races. Only one other skier has won even half that many. During the 1978-1979 season, Stenmark won 13 World Cup races, setting a record that no man has beaten. However, in September 1979, Stenmark took a bad fall during a downhill training session and received a major concussion. He was back in shape for the 1980 Olympics five months later, but he skipped the downhill. Back in 1976, Stenmark had earned a bronze medal in the giant slalom after lying in only eighth place after the first run. In the same event in Lake Placid, Stenmark was third after the first run. His second run time was almost a second faster than the other skiers and he won the gold medal by three quarters of a second. Three days later, he came from behind again in the slalom, moving from fourth to first place with a great second run.
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