Gunde Svan

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Gunde Svan
20190225 Seefeld 3347 Gunde Svan.jpg
Gunde Svan in 2019
CountryFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Full nameGunde Anders Svan
Born (1962-01-12) 12 January 1962 (age 63)
Dala-Järna, Sweden
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in) [1]
Spouse(s) Marie Svan
Ski clubDala-Järna IK
World Cup career
Seasons10 – (1982–1991)
Indiv. starts71
Indiv. podiums46
Indiv. wins30
Team starts14
Team podiums14
Team wins9
Overall titles5 – (1984–1986, 1988, 1989)
Medal record
Men's cross-country skiing
Representing Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
International nordic ski competitions
Event1st2nd3rd
Olympic Games 411
World Championships 731
Total1142
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1984 Sarajevo 15 km
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1984 Sarajevo 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1988 Calgary 50 km freestyle
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1988 Calgary 4 × 10 km relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1984 Sarajevo 50 km
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1984  Sarajevo 30 km
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1985 Seefeld 30 km
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1985 Seefeld 50 km
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1987 Oberstdorf 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1989 Lahti 15 km freestyle
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1989 Lahti 50 km freestyle
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1989 Lahti 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1991 Val di Fiemme 30 km classical
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1991 Val di Fiemme 15 km freestyle
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1991 Val di Fiemme 50 km freestyle
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1991 Val di Fiemme 4 × 10 km relay
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1985 Seefeld 4 × 10 km relay
Junior World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1982 Murau3 × 5 km relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1980 Örnsköldsvik3 × 5 km relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1981 Schonach3 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1981 Schonach15 km

Gunde Anders Svan (born 12 January 1962) is a Swedish former cross-country skier and auto racing driver. During his cross-country skiing career he won a total of four gold, one silver and one bronze medals at the Winter Olympics. Svan won a total of seven golds, three silvers, and one bronze at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Svan also won the 15 km once (1983) and the 50 km twice (1986, 1990) at the Holmenkollen ski festival. In 1984, he earned the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal, and in 1985, he earned the Holmenkollen medal (shared with Anette Bøe and Per Bergerud). In both 1984 and 1985 did Svan win the Jerring Award. [2] He is a board member of the International Ski Federation.

Contents

Biography

During his skiing career he became known for his dedication and attention to detail. For instance, he used a lighter alloy on the tips of his ski poles, saving four grams (0.14 oz). He won two golds (15 km and relay), one bronze (30 km) and one silver (50 km) at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, he won two golds for 50 km and relay. He also won the World championship gold six times and won the World cup five times.

As a competitor in rallycross he got one gold medal in the Swedish Championship and a bronze medal in the FIA European Championship for Rallycross Drivers (1995: Division 1 – Group N category; with a Toyota Celica GT-Four). One of the reasons for getting into another sport was that some people called him a natural skier while he himself maintained that it's just a matter of will and dedication, according to his famous tagline "nothing is impossible". He applied the same methods to his driving as his skiing and even built his own reaction-tester to practice for the rallycross eminently important starts. When his compatriot and teamboss, the late Christer Bohlin, was not able to fulfill his promise to upgrade his Toyota team for 1996 into the top ERC category (Division 2 by then), Svan quit and gave up rallycross.

After retiring from his athletic career he has worked as the host for some game shows such as the Swedish versions of American Gladiators and Fort Boyard along the swedish national lotery Bingolotto . He has played a seductive lady in the short movie En handelsresandes nöd, directed by rock group Svenne Rubins and starring Claes Månsson, Björn Skifs and Gert Klötzke. He has also appeared in numerous commercials including a famous commercial where he impersonated fellow skier Thomas Wassberg.

Svan resigned from his position as Chief of Cross-Country for Sweden on the week of 4 May 2009 after he was involved in its reorganization.

He participated in Let's Dance 2018 broadcast on TV4 where he finished third together with Jeanette Carlsson.

He retired to his 1,000-hectare (2,500-acre) forest farm, where he worked with his son, Ferry Svan, and now supports his children's careers. [3]

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS). [4]

Olympic Games

 Year  Age  15 km  30 km  50 km  4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1984 22 Gold Bronze Silver Gold
1988 26 14 10 Gold Gold

World Championships

 Year  Age  10 km  15 km 
 classical 		 15 km  
 freestyle 		 30 km  50 km  4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1982 20—13————
1985 23—5—GoldGoldBronze
1987 25———7—Gold
1989 27—6Gold—GoldGold
1991 29——SilverGoldSilverSilver

World Cup

Season titles

  • 5 titles – (5 overall)
FIS Crystal Globe.svg Season
Discipline
1984 Overall
1985 Overall
1986 Overall
1988 Overall
1989 Overall

Season standings

 Season  Age Overall
1982 2057
1983 21Silver medal icon.svg
1984 22Gold medal icon.svg
1985 23Gold medal icon.svg
1986 24Gold medal icon.svg
1987 25Bronze medal icon.svg
1988 26Gold medal icon.svg
1989 27Gold medal icon.svg
1990 28Silver medal icon.svg
1991 298

Individual podiums

  • 30 victories
  • 46 podiums
No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlace
1 1982–83 12 March 1983 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway50 km IndividualWorld Cup3rd
219 March 1983 Flag of the United States.svg Anchorage, United States15 km IndividualWorld Cup1st
327 March 1983 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Labrador City, Canada30 km IndividualWorld Cup1st
4 1983–84 16 December 1983 Flag of Austria.svg Ramsau, Austria30 km IndividualWorld Cup1st
510 February 1984 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Sarajevo, Yugoslavia30 km IndividualOlympic Games [1] 3rd
613 February 198415 km IndividualOlympic Games [1] 1st
719 February 198450 km IndividualOlympic Games [1] 2nd
825 February 1984 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden30 km IndividualWorld Cup1st
92 March 1984 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti, Finland15 km IndividualWorld Cup3rd
1010 March 1984 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway50 km IndividualWorld Cup3rd
1117 March 1984 Flag of the United States.svg Fairbanks, United States15 km IndividualWorld Cup1st
12 1984–85 9 December 1984 Flag of Italy.svg Cogne, Italy15 km IndividualWorld Cup3rd
1318 January 1985 Flag of Austria.svg Seefeld, Austria30 km IndividualWorld Championships [1] 1st
1427 January 198550 km IndividualWorld Championships [1] 1st
1516 February 1985 Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg Aleko, Bulgaria15 km IndividualWorld Cup1st
1623 February 1985 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Syktyvkar, Soviet Union15 km IndividualWorld Cup1st
179 March 1985 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden30 km IndividualWorld Cup1st
1814 March 1985 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway15 km IndividualWorld Cup2nd
19 1985–86 8 December 1985 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Labrador City, Canada15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
2014 December 1985 Flag of the United States.svg Biwabik, United States30 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
2111 January 1986 Flag of France.svg La Bresse, France30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
2215 January 1986 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Bohinj, Yugoslavia5 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
2314 February 1986 Flag of Germany.svg Oberstdorf, West Germany50 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
2423 February 1986 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kavgolovo, Soviet Union15 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
252 March 1986 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti, Finland15 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
2614 March 1986 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway50 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
27 1986–87 10 December 1986 Flag of Austria.svg Ramsau, Austria15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
2813 December 1986 Flag of Italy.svg Cogne, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
29 1987–88 12 December 1987 Flag of France.svg La Clusaz, France15 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
3015 December 1987 Flag of Italy.svg Kastelruth, Italy30 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
3119 December 1987 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Davos, Switzerland15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
3227 February 1988 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Calgary, Canada50 km Individual FOlympic Games [1] 1st
33 1988–89 10 December 1988 Flag of Austria.svg Ramsau, Austria15 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
3414 December 1988 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Bohinj, Yugoslavia30 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
3517 December 1988 Flag of Italy.svg Val di Sole, Italy15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
3613 January 1989 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Nové Město, Czechoslovakia15 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
3715 January 198930 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
3820 February 1989 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti, Finland15 km Individual FWorld Championships [1] 1st
3926 February 198950 km Individual FWorld Championships [1] 1st
40 1989–90 13 January 1990 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Moscow, Soviet Union30 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
4121 February 1990 Flag of Italy.svg Val di Fiemme, Italy30 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
426 March 1990 Flag of Norway.svg Trondheim, Norway15 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
4317 March 1990 Flag of Norway.svg Vang, Norway50 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
44 1990–91 7 February 1991 Flag of Italy.svg Val di Fiemme, Italy30 km Individual CWorld Championships [1] 1st
459 February 199115 km Individual FWorld Championships [1] 2nd
4617 February 199150 km Individual FWorld Championships [1] 2nd

Team podiums

  • 9 victories
  • 14 podiums
No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlaceTeammates
1 1983–84 16 February 1984 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Sarajevo, Yugoslavia4 × 10 km RelayOlympic Games [1] 1st Wassberg / Kohlberg / Ottosson
225 February 1984 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km RelayWorld Cup1st Östlund / Wassberg / Ottosson
3  1984–85  24 January 1985 Flag of Austria.svg Seefeld, Austria4 × 10 km RelayWorld Championships [1] 3rd Östlund / Wassberg / Eriksson
410 March 1985 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km RelayWorld Cup2nd Östlund / Wassberg / Mogren
517 March 1985 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway4 × 10 km RelayWorld Cup1st Eriksson / Danielsson / Wassberg
6 1985–86 9 March 1986 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup1st Östlund / Eriksson / Mogren
713 March 1986 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup1st Östlund / Eriksson / Mogren
8 1986–87 17 February 1987 Flag of Germany.svg Oberstdorf, West Germany4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Championships [1] 1st Östlund / Wassberg / Mogren
9 1987–88 24 February 1988 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Calgary, Canada4 × 10 km Relay FOlympic Games [1] 1st Ottosson / Wassberg / Mogren
1013 March 1988 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup1st Ottosson / Mogren / Majbäck
1117 March 1988 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup2nd Ottosson / Mogren / Majbäck
12 1988–89 24 February 1989 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti, Finland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Championships [1] 1st Majbäck / Håland / Mogren
13  1990–91  15 February 1991 Flag of Italy.svg Val di Fiemme, Italy4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Championships [1] 2nd Eriksson / Majbäck / Mogren
141 March 1991 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti, Finland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2nd Eriksson / Mogren / Forsberg

Note:1 Until the 1999 World Championships and the 1994 Winter Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

Racing record

Complete FIA European Rallycross Championship results

Division 1

YearEntrantCar123456789101112PositionPoints
1994 Christer Bohlin Motorsport Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD AUT
5		POR
6		FRA
3		IRE
(8)		GBR
5		SWE
7		FIN
2		BEL
(7)		NED
(7)		NOR
(8)		GER
3		5th92
1995 Christer Bohlin Motorsport Toyota Celica GT-Four AUT
3		POR
(5)		FRA
1		SWE
2		GBR
3		IRE
(7)		BEL
3		NED
3		NOR
(6)		FIN
2		CZE
2		GER
(4)		3rd131

References

  1. ↑ "Anthropometric Measurements of Olympic Cross-Country Skiers".
  2. ↑ "SR Minnen: Jerringpristagare". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). 2014-11-26. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  3. ↑ "Cross-country skiing legend Gunde Svan: "Forestry work is a nice counterbalance to TV work"". Valtra. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  4. ↑ "SVAN Gunde". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
Preceded by Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
1984		Succeeded by
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