Ole Ellefsæter

Grenoble, 17 February 1968, X Olympic Winter Games. Eventual gold medallist Ole ELLEFSAETER of Norway, in action in the men's cross country skiing 50km event held in Autrans. Credit: IOC / Olympic Museum Collections

Born: 15 February 1939

Birthplace: Furnes (Norway)

Nationality: Norway

Sport:Skiing

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Innsbruck 1964

Grenoble 1968

Sapporo 1972

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 2

Other results:

World Championships

Gold: 1 (66)

Silver: 1 (66)

Going the Distance on His Birthday

At the 1968 Grenoble Olympics, Ole Ellefsæter, a forestry technician and pop singer, earned a gold medal as the final skier on Norway's 4x10km relay team. The next day, on his 29th birthday, Ellesæter entered the 50km race, an event in which he had placed eighth at the 1964 Winter Olympics. This time he won by 16.7 seconds to secure a second gold medal. A long-distance specialist, Ellesæter is the only Norwegian to win Sweden's famous 90km Vasaloppet race. He did so in 1971.