Hans Aalien

Hans Anton Aalien

Personal information
Born	(1958-09-21) 21 September 1958 (age 67) Elverum, Norway
Sport
Country	Norway
Sport	Athletics Cross-country skiing Swimming
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals	1988 Winter: 1st
Paralympic finals	1980 Winter: 2 gold, 1 bronze 1984 Winter: 3 gold 1988 Winter: 2 gold, 1 silver
Medal record Summer Paralympic Games Representing   Norway Athletics 1980 Arnhem 1,500 m A Swimming Toronto 1976 100 m Breaststroke A 1984 New York/ Stoke Mandeville 100 m Breaststroke B1 Winter Paralympic Games Representing   Norway Cross-country skiing Geilo 1980 4x10 km Relay 5A-5B Geilo 1980 Long Distance 20 km 5B 1984 Innsbruck 4x10 km Relay B1-2 1984 Innsbruck Middle Distance 10 km B1 1984 Innsbruck Short Distance 10 km B1 1988 Innsbruck 4x10 km Relay B1-3 1988 Innsbruck Short Distance 15 km B1 1988 Innsbruck Long Distance 30 km B1 Geilo 1980 Middle Distance 10 km 5B

Hans Anton Aalien (born 21 September 1958, Elverum, Norway) is a Norwegian Paralympic athlete from Eggedal, who competed as a blind competitor. He is one of the few athletes to have achieved success in both the Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, winning medals in cross-country skiing, swimming, and athletics. He is also known for winning a gold medal in the demonstration event for disabled skiing at the 1988 Winter Olympics event in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with a time of 18 minutes, 52.2 seconds. ^{[1] [2]}

Career

Aalien was a dominant figure in blind cross-country skiing during the 1980s. He competed in three Winter Paralympics (1980, 1984, and 1988), winning a total of seven gold medals, one silver, and one bronze.

In addition to his winter sports career, Aalien competed in the Summer Paralympics as well. He won a silver and a bronze medal in swimming at the 1976 Summer Paralympics in Toronto and a bronze medal in athletics (800m B1) at the 1984 Summer Paralympics. ^[3]

1988 Winter Olympics

At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, disabled skiing was featured as a demonstration sport. Aalien won the gold medal in the men's 5 km cross-country skiing event for the blind. He finished with a time of 18 minutes and 51.2 seconds, guided by A. Homb. ^[4]

References

1. "Calgary 1988: results skiing cross-country". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
2. "RESULTS OF THE XVth OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES IN CALGARY" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
3. "Hans Anton Aalien: Profile and Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
4. "Olympic Museum: Hans Anton Aalien Poster". The Olympic Museum. Retrieved 19 December 2025.