Emil Hegle Svendsen (born 12 July 1985) is a retired Norwegian biathlete. He has won eight medals at Winter Olympics (four gold) and five individual gold medals and seven relay gold medals at World Championships.
He skis with Trondhjems Skiskyttere, based in his hometown Trondheim.
The 2005–06 season was Svendsen's first season on the World Cup tour. Previously, he had competed as a junior in the European Cup, now known as the IBU cup. During his first season in the World Cup, Svendsen finished fifth in three races, two of them in sprints (Brezno-Osrblie and Ruhpolding), and the other in a mass start (Holmenkollen). He also finished races in seventh, ninth, and four more within the top twenty (14th, 15th, 17th, 19th). He finished the overall season in 22nd place. He was 32nd in the pursuit, 21st in the sprint, and 7th in the mass start, only seven points behind Sven Fischer in fourth place.
Svendsen was selected for the Olympics, to compete in the mass start, in which he came sixth, after hitting 18/20 targets and finished 53.8 seconds behind winner Michael Greis of Germany. As a junior, Svendsen won four gold medals in junior World Championships, his first and second gold was in the pursuit, and the relay in Haute Maurienne in 2004, and the third and fourth gold in the individual and the sprint in Kontiolahti in 2005. He also has two bronze medals from the individual and the pursuit in Kościelisko in 2003. During his three seasons in the European Cup, Svendsen won two races (individual and pursuit), one second place (sprint), and came third three times (all in the sprint).
For his first season in the World Cup Svendsen had an 82% shooting average, making him the 42nd best shot of the tour, but the same shooting percentage as Halvard Hanevold and Vincent Defrasne. He hit 243 out of 295 targets. He shot both 82% in his prone and standing shoot, he averaged 70% in the individual, 84% in the sprint, 81% in the pursuit, 87% in the mass start, and 76% in the relay.
On 13 December 2007, Svendsen took his first world cup victory, at the 20 km in Pokljuka. However, his big breakthrough came when he won two individual gold medals at the 2008 World Championships, winning both the individual and the mass start ahead of Ole Einar Bjørndalen. He went on winning more victories and podiums for the rest of the season, and eventually finished third overall.
The 2008/2009 season started off well for Svendsen. By placing on the podium in every one of the first five races, he took the lead in the overall world cup. After the Christmas holiday however, Svendsen struggled to maintain the early season's results, and when he fell ill during the world championships and did not compete in several races, he lost the overall lead. After a couple of middle placings, he returned with a third place at the mass start event in Trondheim, and a fourth place and a victory in Khanty Mansiysk the consecutive week.
He won a silver medal in the 10 km sprint at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver on the first day of men's biathlon competition and then followed it up with two gold medals in the 20 km individual and the relay event.
He won 2 gold medals in 2014 Winter Olympics: in mass-start and mixed relay (together with Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Tiril Eckhoff and Tora Berger).
Svendsen is 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) tall, and weighs 170 lb (77 kg, 12 st 2 lb)
On 9 April 2018, he announced his retirement from biathlon following the 2017–2018 season. [1] [2]
Svendsen was in a relationship with a fellow biathlete Kaja Eckhoff, [3] sister of the biathletes Stian and Tiril Eckhoff, for several years after meeting her in the early 2000s at the Norges Toppidrettsgymnas in Lillehammer where they both studied as teenagers, before breaking up in the summer of 2011. [4]
He then was in a relationship with Samantha Skogrand from November 2013 to autumn 2022. They got engaged in December 2016, [5] but never married. In January 2019 the couple became parents to a son whom they named Magnus [6] and in July 2021 they welcomed their second child - daughter Elsa. [7] The family resided in Oslo. They announced their separation in a joint statement on Instagram on 28 April 2023. [8]
After retiring from competition in 2018 Svendsen decided to study for a bachelor's degree in business administration. While studying he worked as a biathlon expert for the Norwegian TV channel NRK [9] in 2019-2021 and a coach with the privately-funded Norwegian biathlon youth team Meistebakken. As of 2023 he has finished his studies and is working for the Norwegian real estate company Fredensborg Fritid as a real estate developer. [10]
All results are sourced from the International Biathlon Union. [11]
8 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)
| Event | Individual | Sprint | Pursuit | Mass start | Relay | Mixed relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 2006 Turin | — | — | — | 6th | — | — |
 2010 Vancouver | Gold | Silver | 8th | 13th | Gold | — |
 2014 Sochi | 7th | 9th | 7th | Gold | 4th | Gold |
 2018 Pyeongchang | 10th | 18th | 20th | Bronze | Silver | Silver |
21 medals (12 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze)
| Event | Individual | Sprint | Pursuit | Mass start | Relay | Mixed relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Antholz-Anterselva | — | 7th | 5th | — | — | Bronze |
 2008 Östersund | Gold | 12th | 12th | Gold | Silver | — |
| 2009 Pyeongchang | DNS | — | — | 12th | Gold | — |
| 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk | — | — | — | — | — | Silver |
| 2011 Khanty-Mansiysk | 4th | 5th | Silver | Gold | Gold | — |
 2012 Ruhpolding | 8th | Silver | 5th | 18th | Gold | Gold |
 2013 Nové Město | — | Gold | Gold | Bronze | Gold | Gold |
 2015 Kontiolahti | Silver | 36th | 19th | 15th | Silver | — |
 2016 Oslo Holmenkollen | 32nd | 17th | Bronze | 28th | Gold | — |
 2017 Hochfilzen | 27th | 36th | DNS | 28th | 8th | 8th |
| Event | Individual | Sprint | Pursuit | Relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Ridnaun-Val Ridanna | 18th | 13th | 13th | 11th |
 2003 Kościelisko | Bronze | 7th | Bronze | 4th |
 2004 Haute Maurienne | 14th | 6th | Gold | Gold |
| 2005 Kontiolahti | Gold | Gold | Silver | 10th |
| Season | Overall | Individual | Sprint | Pursuit | Mass start | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Races | Points | Position | Races | Points | Position | Races | Points | Position | Races | Points | Position | Races | Points | Position | |
| 2005–06 | 17/26 | 289 | 22nd | 0/3 | 0 | — | 7/10 | 120 | 21st | 5/8 | 52 | 32nd | 5/5 | 117 | 7th |
| 2006–07 | 19/27 | 381 | 17th | 0/4 | 0 | — | 8/10 | 158 | 14th | 6/8 | 154 | 12th | 3/5 | 69 | 18th |
| 2007–08 | 20/26 | 687 | 3rd | 2/3 | 100 | 2nd | 8/10 | 253 | 3rd | 6/8 | 210 | 6th | 4/5 | 124 | 5th |
| 2008–09 | 19/26 | 844 | 3rd | 2/4 | 72 | 14th | 7/10 | 318 | 3rd | 6/7 | 308 | 2nd | 4/5 | 146 | 7th |
| 2009–10 | 19/25 | 828 | 1st | 2/4 | 120 | 2nd | 8/10 | 354 | 1st | 4/6 | 173 | 8th | 5/5 | 163 | 2nd |
| 2010–11 | 24/26 | 1105 | 2nd | 4/4 | 188 | 1st | 9/10 | 369 | 2nd | 6/7 | 304 | 3rd | 5/5 | 244 | 1st |
| 2011–12 | 26/26 | 1035 | 2nd | 3/3 | 108 | 3rd | 10/10 | 378 | 2nd | 8/8 | 349 | 2nd | 5/5 | 218 | 2nd |
| 2012–13 | 20/26 | 827 | 2nd | 1/3 | 43 | 25th | 8/10 | 315 | 2nd | 7/8 | 287 | 2nd | 4/5 | 182 | 2nd |
| 2013–14 | 18/22 | 642 | 2nd | 2/2 | 84 | 1st | 7/9 | 240 | 6th | 6/8 | 217 | 7th | 3/3 | 101 | 4th |
| 2014–15 | 21/25 | 613 | 9th | 2/3 | 114 | 3rd | 8/10 | 191 | 17th | 6/7 | 199 | 6th | 5/5 | 109 | 15th |
| 2015–16 | 19/25 | 595 | 10th | 3/3 | 64 | 15th | 6/9 | 183 | 14th | 6/8 | 229 | 7th | 4/5 | 119 | 15th |
| 2016–17 | 19/26 | 667 | 7th | 1/3 | 14 | 49th | 8/9 | 276 | 3rd | 6/9 | 249 | 5th | 4/5 | 128 | 12th |
| 2017–18 | 10/22 | 323 | 24th | 2/2 | 41 | 15th | 3/8 | 106 | 24th | 3/7 | 126 | 20th | 2/5 | 50 | 29th |
38 victories (8 In, 11 Sp, 12 Pu, 7 MS)
| Season | Date | Location | Discipline | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 6 victories (2 In, 2 Sp, 1 Pu, 1 MS) | 13 December 2007 |  Pokljuka | 20 km individual | Biathlon World Cup |
| 14 February 2008 | Östersund | 20 km individual | Biathlon World Championships | |
| 17 February 2008 | Östersund | 15 km mass start | Biathlon World Championships | |
| 27 February 2008 | Pyeongchang | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 8 March 2008 | Khanty-Mansiysk | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 13 March 2008 | Oslo Holmenkollen | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 2008–09 5 victories (3 Sp, 2 Pu) | 6 December 2008 | Östersund | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Cup |
| 12 December 2008 | Hochfilzen | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 13 December 2008 | Hochfilzen | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 23 January 2009 | Antholz-Anterselva | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 28 March 2009 | Khanty-Mansiysk | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 2009–10 5 victories (2 In, 1 Sp, 1 Pu, 1 MS) | 3 December 2009 | Östersund | 20 km individual | Biathlon World Cup |
| 12 December 2009 | Hochfilzen | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 14 January 2010 | Ruhpolding | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 16 January 2010 | Ruhpolding | 15 km mass start | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 18 February 2010 | Vancouver | 20 km individual | Winter Olympic Games | |
| 2010–11 8 victories (2 In, 2 Sp, 2 Pu, 2 MS) | 2 December 2010 | Östersund | 20 km individual | Biathlon World Cup |
| 4 December 2010 | Östersund | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 12 January 2011 | Ruhpolding | 20 km individual | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 10 February 2011 |  Fort Kent | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 12 February 2011 | Fort Kent | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 12 March 2011 | Khanty-Mansiysk | 15 km mass start | Biathlon World Championships | |
| 19 March 2011 | Oslo Holmenkollen | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 20 March 2011 | Oslo Holmenkollen | 15 km mass start | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 2011–12 4 victories (1 Sp, 1 Pu, 2 MS) | 10 December 2011 | Hochfilzen | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup |
| 14 January 2012 | Nové Město | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 5 February 2012 | Oslo Holmenkollen | 15 km mass start | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 18 March 2012 | Khanty-Mansiysk | 15 km mass start | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 2012–13 3 victories (1 Sp, 2 Pu) | 15 December 2012 | Pokljuka | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup |
| 9 February 2013 | Nové Město | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Championships | |
| 10 February 2013 | Nové Město | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Championships | |
| 2013–14 5 victories (1 In, 1 Sp, 2 Pu, 1 MS) | 3 January 2014 | Oberhof | 10 km sprint | Biathlon World Cup |
| 4 January 2014 | Oberhof | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 11 January 2014 | Ruhpolding | 20 km individual | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 12 January 2014 | Ruhpolding | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup | |
| 18 February 2014 | Sochi | 15 km mass start | Winter Olympic Games | |
| 2014–15 2 victories (1 In, 1 Pu) | 3 December 2014 | Östersund | 20 km individual | Biathlon World Cup |
| 20 December 2014 | Pokljuka | 12.5 km pursuit | Biathlon World Cup | |
Ole Einar Bjørndalen is a retired Norwegian professional biathlete and coach, often referred to by the nickname, the "King of Biathlon". With 13 Winter Olympic Games medals, he is second on the list of multiple medalists behind Marit Bjørgen who has won 15 medals. He is also the most successful biathlete of all time at the Biathlon World Championships, having won 45 medals. With 95 World Cup wins, Bjørndalen is ranked first all-time for career victories on the Biathlon World Cup tour. He has won the Overall World Cup title six times, in 1997–98, in 2002–03, in 2004–05, in 2005–06, in 2007–08 and in 2008–09.
Liv Grete Skjelbreid from Hålandsdal, Fusa, near the city of Bergen in western Norway, is a former professional biathlete. On 20 March 2006, Liv Grete announced her retirement, effective at the end of the season which ended on 26 March at the Holmenkollen. She said that she was retiring because of her young daughter, Emma, her family and because she did not have the motivation to continue.
Raphaël Poirée is a retired French biathlete who was active from 1995 to 2007. With his 44 World Cup victories and several World Championship medals he ranks among the most successful biathletes ever.
Frank Ullrich is a German politician of the SPD and former biathlete and trainer of the German national team. Since 2021, he has been a member of the Bundestag.
Michael Greis is a former German biathlete.
Halvard Hanevold was a Norwegian biathlete.
Stian Kampenhaug Eckhoff is a former Norwegian biathlete. He has 2 World Cup victories and in the 2004–05 season, Eckhoff placed tenth overall. Since his retirement he has become involved in coaching the Norwegian national biathlon team, and was appointed head coach of the Norwegian women's biathlon programme ahead of the 2014–15 season. He is the brother of fellow biathlete Tiril Eckhoff.
Magdalena "Lena" Holzer is a retired German professional biathlete. She is the most successful woman of all time at Biathlon World Championships and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. At the age of 21, she became the youngest Overall World Cup winner in the history of the International Biathlon Union (IBU). With 34 World Cup wins, Holzer is ranked second all-time for career victories on the Biathlon World Cup tour. She has won the Overall World Cup title three times, in 2007–08, in 2009–10 and her final season in 2011–12. At only 25 years old, Holzer retired from the sport in March 2012, citing a lack of motivation and her desire for a normal life.
Timothy John Burke is a retired U.S. biathlete and coach. On December 20, 2009, he became the first ever US biathlete to lead the overall Biathlon World Cup. During his career he competed in 11 Biathlon World Championships and four Winter Olympic Games, won a World Championship silver and took six podiums in World Cup races.
Tora Berger is a retired Norwegian biathlete and Olympic champion.
The 2007–08 Biathlon World Cup was a multi-race tournament over a season of biathlon, organised by the International Biathlon Union. The season started 28 November 2007 and ended 16 March 2008.
Andreas Birnbacher is a former German biathlete. His biggest successes were the silver medal in the mass start event at the 2007 World Championships and the gold medal in the mixed relay at the 2008 World Championships. He also won the bronze medal at the 2012 world championships in Ruhpolding when he was part of the German teams that finished third in the mixed relay and the men's relay.
Evgeny Romanovich Ustyugov is a Russian former biathlete. Born to cross-country skiers, Ustyugov was introduced to biathlon at the age of three. He started his career in junior tournaments in 2005, before going professional three years later in the European Championships. He is an Olympic champion in the men's 15 km mass start event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Prior to the 2010 Olympic Games, his best World Championship finish in an individual event was 20th place.
Tarjei Bø is a Norwegian professional biathlete. Awarded Olympic gold medals, World Championship gold medals and World Cup victories from 2010 to 2022. Bø debuted in the Biathlon World Cup on 26 March 2009 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. In the 2010 Winter Olympics, he earned his first gold medal in the 4 × 7.5 km biathlon relay. On 10 December 2010 he won the World Cup sprint race in Hochfilzen, his first world cup victory. He also won the following pursuit race and anchored the winning relay team. Bø is the older brother of biathlete Johannes Thingnes Bø.
Martin Fourcade is a retired French biathlete. He is a five-time Olympic champion, a thirteen-time World Champion and a seven-time winner of the Overall World Cup. As of February 2018, he is the most successful French Olympian of all time. Fourcade is the all-time biathlon record holder of overall World Cup titles with seven big crystal globes and he's also the all-time record holder of the most consecutive Major Championships titles with at least one non-team gold medal in every major championship from 2011 to 2018.
Anton Vladimirovich Shipulin is a retired Russian biathlete and politician serving as the member of the State Duma since 2019.
Dorothea Wierer is an Italian biathlete competing in the Biathlon World Cup. Together with Karin Oberhofer, Dominik Windisch and Lukas Hofer she won a bronze medal in the Mixed relay at the 2014 Winter Olympics, in Sochi, Russia. At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea she won again the bronze medal in the Mixed relay with Lisa Vittozzi, Lukas Hofer and Dominik Windisch. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, she won her first individual medal in the Sprint. She is the 2019 Mass Start World Champion and the 2020 Pursuit and Individual World Champion.
Tiril Kampenhaug Eckhoff is a Norwegian former biathlete.
Justine Braisaz-Bouchet is a French biathlete, Olympic champion in the 12.5 km mass start at the 2022 Beijing Games and medalist at the Winter Olympics 2018 and World Championships.
Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen is a Norwegian biathlete.
|
|
| 2 × 6 km + 2 × 7.5 km | |
|---|---|
| 4 × 6 km | |
|
|
|
|
|
| 4 × 7.5 km | |
|---|---|
| 2 × 6 km + 2 × 7.5 km |
|
| 4 × 6 km | |
Biathlon World Cup champions – men's overall | |
|---|---|
|
