Olympic Winter Games Lake Placid 1980
Lake Placid 1980
About the Games
Artificial Snow
To guarantee that all events took place in the best possible conditions, many snow machines were used to produce artificial snow—the first time this had been done at the Olympic Games.
Slalom Champions
The great Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark won the giant slalom and the slalom. In both races, he was behind on the first run but came back sensationally on the second. Hanni Wenzel did the same in the women’s races, making her nation, Liechtenstein, the smallest country to produce an Olympic champion.
Lake Placid 1980 Winter Olympic Games Legacy
Discover the lasting legacy that this edition of the Olympic Games created for its hosts.
Memorable Champions
Germany’s Ulrich Wehling won the Nordic combined for the third time, and Russian pairs skater Irina Rodnina achieved the same feat in her event. In the biathlon relay, Aleksandr Tikhonov of the USSR earned his fourth straight gold medal, while his compatriot Nikolay Zimyatov earned three gold medals in cross country skiing.
Medal Table
See the list of teams and medals won by each.
1980
Featured Athletes
Replays from
Lake Placid 1980
All Replays
1980
Discover the Games
The Brand
A visual identity is developed for each edition of the Olympic Games.Brand
The Medals
Beginning as an olive wreath, medal designs have evolved over the years.Medals
The Mascot
An original image, it must give concrete form to the Olympic spirit.Mascot
The Torch
An iconic part of any Olympic Games, each host offers their unique version.Torch