Ingrid WIGERNAES

Due to the cessation of most organized sport in Norway during World War II, Ingrid Wigernæs got a late start to her athletic career and did not take up skiing until he was in her 20s. Nonetheless, she managed to debut at the Winter Olympics in 1956, where she finished 27th among 40 competitors in the 10 kilometres event. She improved her performance at the national level during the early 1960s and was selected for a second edition of the Games in 1964, where she came in 12th in the 10 kilometres and joint-15th (with Renate Dannhauer of Germany) in the 5 kilometres. Her biggest international victory arrived two years later, when she took silver in the 3 x 5 kilometres relay alongside Inger Aufles and Berit Mørdre.

Wigernæs retired from active competition after this tournament, but soon took up a new role as trainer of the women’s cross-country team. In this capacity, she led Aufles, Mørdre and Babben Enger-Damon to a gold medal in the 3 x 5 kilometres relay at the 1968 Winter Olympics. She retired from coaching the national team the following year, but remained athletically active in skiing into her 80s. She also continued to coach at lower levels, and by career worked for the Nycomed pharmaceutical company.