Kristen SKJELDAL

Kristen Skjeldal competed at three Winter Olympic Games in cross-country skiing, winning three medals – golds in the 1992 and 2002 relay, and an individual bronze in the 30 km at Salt Lake City, after the original winner, Johann Mühlegg, was later disqualified for doping. Skjeldal competed at several World Championships, with a best individual finish of sixth in the 50 km in 1999. He débuted in the World Cup in March 1989, and eventually had 11 podium finishes, winning one race, a 30 km at Lahti in March 1991. He also had three World Cup victories in relay events, and in 2001/02, Skjeldal was fourth in the seasonal World Cup.

Skjeldal continued to compete internationally through 2005 but was not selected for the 2006 Olympic team. However, in 2012 he came back at the Norwegian Championships, finishing eighth in the 15 km freestyle event. In total, he won 11 Norwegian individual championship titles, six of which came in the 50 km, the last coming in 2006, the most at this distance. He was a carpenter by profession. His brother Gudmund Skjeldal also competed internationally for Norway and wrote a biography about Kristen.