Thomas Alsgaard

Last updated
Thomas Alsgaard
Thomas Alsgaard at 'Bysprinten' Mosjoen 2013-04-26.jpg
Thomas Alsgaard in April 2013
CountryFlag of Norway.svg  Norway
Full nameThomas Alsgaard
Born (1972-01-10) 10 January 1972 (age 52)
Lørenskog, Norway
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Ski clubEidsvold Værks Skiklub
World Cup career
Seasons11 – (19932003)
Starts110
Podiums29
Wins13
Overall titles1 – (1998)
Discipline titles2 – (1 LD, 1 SP)
Medal record
Men's cross-country skiing
Representing Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Event1st2nd3rd
Olympic Games 510
World Championships 621
Total1131
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1994 Lillehammer 30 km freestyle
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1998 Nagano 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1998 Nagano 10 km + 15 km
combined pursuit
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2002 Salt Lake City 10 km + 10 km
combined pursuit
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2002 Salt Lake City 4 × 10 km relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1994 Lillehammer 4 × 10 km relay
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1995 Thunder Bay 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1997 Trondheim 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1999 Ramsau 10 km + 15 km
combined pursuit
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2001 Lahti 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2003 Val di Fiemme 30 km classical
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2003 Val di Fiemme4 × 10 km relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1999 Ramsau30 km freestyle
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1999 Ramsau4 × 10 km relay
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1997 Trondheim30 km freestyle
Junior World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1991 Reit im Winkl10 km classical
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1991 Reit im Winkl30 km freestyle
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1991 Reit im Winkl4 × 10 km relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1992 Vuokatti10 km classical

Thomas Alsgaard (born 10 January 1972) is a Norwegian former professional cross-country skier. Alsgaard is regarded by many as the best performer of the freestyle technique (skating) in cross-country skiing and many of today's best skiers have studied his technique. In total, Alsgaard won 15 medals in the Winter Olympics and FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, making him one of the most successful skiers of all time.

Contents

Early life

Born in Flateby, Enebakk, Alsgaard began cross-country ski racing at the age of three. That was when he was entered into a race against many 5-year-olds. He beat all of them. A year later, it was rumored that he was lost in the village the family lived in. In fact, he was found at the local ski area, just about to start his third time around a 9-kilometer loop. Alsgaard says that his passion for skiing comes from liking to be outdoors.

Athletic career

Alsgaard got his international breakthrough in the Lillehammer 1994 Winter Olympics winning the 30 kilometre freestyle event. In total, Alsgaard won 15 medals in the Winter Olympics and FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, making him one of the most successful skiers of all time. Excluding his World Championships debut in 1993, Alsgaard won at least one gold medal at every Olympic Games and World Championships that he participated from 1994 to 2003. Alsgaard retired from racing after the 2003 World Championships.

He won the Holmenkollen medal in 2001 (shared with Adam Małysz and Bente Skari).

After his career as a professional skier

Alsgaard retired from racing in 2003. Between 2013 and 2017 he was the owner and manager of a ski team, Team LeasePlan. [1]

He now works as a technical advisor for Alpina Sports, working in the Nordic boot department.

He is also known as a sports commentator [2] for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.

In the Norwegian Championship in January 2011, Alsgaard took a sensational bronze medal at the 15 km classical individual race, defeating many skiers on the Norwegian World Cup team. He was only beaten by Eldar Rønning (gold) and Martin Johnsrud Sundby (silver). He repeated the feat in 2012, expressing frustration with the lack of aggressiveness and initiative in both the younger elite athletes and the team surrounding them. [3]

Ski Classics team owner

As of December 2016 the team consists of four "allround" skiers and six skiers with langløp (or long races) as their specialty; Swede Lina Korsgren is the team's only female (as of 2016); Hans Kristian Stadheim assists in coaching. [4] On 21 April 2017, Alsgaard announced that Team LeasePlan had to shut down due to sponsorship problems. [5]

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS). [6]

Olympic Games

 Year  Age  10 km  15 km  Pursuit  30 km  50 km  4 × 10 km 
 relay 
 Sprint 
1994 22 24 DNS Gold Silver
1998 26 5 Gold DNF 6 Gold
2002 30 Gold 12 Gold

World Championships

 Year  Age  10 km 15 km  Pursuit  30 km  50 km  Sprint  4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1993 21DNF
1995 2321827Gold
1997 25114BronzeGold
1999 2714GoldSilverSilver
2001 2916512Gold
2003 31Gold41Gold

World Cup

Season titles

  • 3 titles – (1 overall, long distance, 1 sprint)
Season
Discipline
1998 Overall
Long Distance
Sprint

Season standings

 Season  Age 
OverallLong DistanceMiddle DistanceSprint
1993 2120
1994 227
1995 2316
1996 248
1997 2517624
1998 26Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svg
1999 27131827
2000 28548
2001 29Bronze medal icon.svg6
2002 30Silver medal icon.svg21
2003 314643

Individual podiums

  • 13 victories
  • 29 podiums
No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlace
1 1993–94 14 February 1994 Flag of Norway.svg Lillehammer, Norway30 km Individual FOlympic Games [1] 1st
2  1994–95  8 January 1995 Flag of Sweden.svg Östersund, Sweden30 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
325 March 1995 Flag of Japan.svg Sapporo, Japan15 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
4  1996–97  21 February 1997 Flag of Norway.svg Trondheim, Norway30 km Individual FWorld Championships [1] 3rd
5  1997–98  14 December 1997 Flag of Italy.svg Val di Fiemme, Italy15 km Pursuit FWorld Cup2nd
616 December 199715 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
720 December 1997 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Davos, Switzerland30 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
83 January 1998 Flag of Russia.svg Kavgolovo, Russia30 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
98 January 1998 Flag of Austria.svg Ramsau, Austria15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
1010 January 199830 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
118 March 1998 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti, Finland30 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
1211 March 1998 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden10 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
13  1998–99  19 February 1999 Flag of Austria.svg Ramsau, Austria30 km Individual FWorld Championships [1] 2nd
1419 February 199915 km Pursuit FWorld Championships [1] 1st
15  1999–00  27 November 1999 Flag of Sweden.svg Kiruna, Sweden10 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
1611 December 1999 Flag of Italy.svg Sappada, Italy7.5 km + 15 km Duathlon C/FWorld Cup1st
179 January 2000 Flag of Russia.svg Moscow, Russia30 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
1812 January 2000 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Nové Město, Czech Republic15 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
19  2000–01  25 November 2000 Flag of Norway.svg Beitostølen, Norway15 km Individual CWorld Cup2nd
2029 November 200010 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
2117 December 2000 Flag of Italy.svg Brusson, Italy1.0 km Sprint FWorld Cup1st
2210 February 2001 Flag of Estonia.svg Otepää, Estonia10 km Individual CWorld Cup1st
237 March 2001 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway1.0 km Sprint CWorld Cup1st
24  2001–02  25 November 2001 Flag of Finland.svg Kuopio, Finland10 km Individual FWorld Cup3rd
255 January 2002 Flag of Italy.svg Val di Fiemme, Italy10 km + 10 km Duathlon C/FWorld Cup2nd
262 March 2002 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti, Finland15 km Individual FWorld Cup2nd
279 March 2002 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden10 km + 10 km Duathlon C/FWorld Cup1st
2816 March 2002 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway50 km Individual FWorld Cup1st
2923 March 2002 Flag of Norway.svg Birkebeinerrennet, Norway58 km Mass Start CWorld Cup1st

Team podiums

  • 12 victories – (12 RL)
  • 25 podiums – (24 RL, 1 TS)
No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlaceTeammate(s)
1  1993–94  22 February 1994 Flag of Norway.svg Lillehammer, Norway4 × 10 km Relay C/FOlympic Games [1] 2nd Sivertsen / Ulvang / Dæhlie
24 March 1994 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti, Finland4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup2nd Skjeldal / Eide / E. Kristiansen
3 1994–95 18 December 1994 Flag of Italy.svg Sappada, Italy4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup1st E. Kristiansen / Skjeldal / Dæhlie
45 February 1995 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup1st Sivertsen / Langli / Dæhlie
512 February 1995 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway4 × 5 km Relay C/FWorld Cup3rd Sivertsen / Jevne / B. Kristiansen
617 March 1995 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Thunder Bay, Canada4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Championships [1] 1st Sivertsen / Jevne / Dæhlie
726 March 1995 Flag of Japan.svg Sapporo, Japan4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1st Ulvang / Dæhlie / Skjeldal
8  1995–96  10 December 1995 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Davos, Switzerland4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup2nd Sivertsen / Jevne / Dæhlie
914 January 1996 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Nové Město, Czech Republic4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup2nd Ulvang / Jevne / Dæhlie
1026 February 1996 Flag of Norway.svg Trondheim, Norway4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1st Ulvang / Jevne / Dæhlie
111 March 1996 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti, Finland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup3rd Skjeldal / Eide / E. Kristiansen
12 1996–97 28 February 1997 Flag of Norway.svg Trondheim, Norway4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Championships [1] 1st Sivertsen / Jevne / Dæhlie
139 March 1997 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2nd Hjelmeset / Skaanes / Sørgård
14 1997–98 23 November 1997 Flag of Norway.svg Beitostølen, Norway4 × 10 km Relay CWorld Cup1st Eide / Jevne / Dæhlie
156 March 1998 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti, Finland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2nd Estil / Sivertsen / Eide
16  1998–99  26 February 1999 Flag of Austria.svg Ramsau, Austria4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Championships [1] 2nd Bjervig / Jevne / Dæhlie
17  1999–00  28 November 1999 Flag of Sweden.svg Kiruna, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay FWorld Cup2nd Bjervig / Skjeldal / Hetland
1813 January 2000 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Nové Město, Czech Republic4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1st Hjelmeset / Jevne / Skjeldal
19 2000–01 9 December 2000 Flag of Italy.svg Santa Caterina, Italy4 × 5 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1st Estil / Skjeldal / Hetland
20  2001–02  16 December 2001 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Davos, Switzerland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup3rd Estil / Jevne / Hetland
2110 March 2002 Flag of Sweden.svg Falun, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1st Estil / Aukland / Skjeldal
22  2002–03  24 November 2002 Flag of Sweden.svg Kiruna, Sweden4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup2nd Skjeldal / Aukland / Hetland
238 December 2002 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Davos, Switzerland4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1st Aukland / Bjonviken / Hetland
2419 January 2003 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Nové Město, Czech Republic4 × 10 km Relay C/FWorld Cup1st Aukland / Estil / Hofstad
2526 January 2003 Flag of Germany.svg Oberhof, Germany10 × 1.5 km Team Sprint FWorld Cup3rd Svartedal

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

Equipment

Alsgaard used skis from Madshus, one of Alpina's partners, with Alpina boots and Rottefella bindings.

See also

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References

  1. "Thomas Alsgaard og Lina Korsgren - Denne jenta er helt spesiell for Alsgaard. Avslører møtet som endret alt: - Jeg var skeptisk". 8 December 2016.
  2. Kirkebøen, Stein Erik (5 January 2009). "Ekspert-veldet". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  3. Kvamme, Sigve (26 January 2012). "- Hvorfor var det ikke noen løpere eller trenere som spurte meg?". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  4. "Thomas Alsgaard og Lina Korsgren - Denne jenta er helt spesiell for Alsgaard. Avslører møtet som endret alt: - Jeg var skeptisk". 8 December 2016.
  5. "Thomas Alsgaard legger ned Team LeasePlan" (in Norwegian). langrenn.com. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  6. "ALSGAARD Thomas". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 6 January 2020.