Bjørn Dæhlie

Bjørn Dæhlie
Bjørn Dæhlie in 2011
Full name	Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie
Born	(1967-06-19) 19 June 1967 (age 49) Elverum,  Norway
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Ski club	Nannestad IL
World Cup career
Seasons	1989–1999
Individual wins	46
Indiv. podiums	81
Overall titles	6 (1991-92, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99)
Medal record Men's cross-country skiing Representing  Norway Olympic Games 1992 Albertville 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit 1992 Albertville 50 km 1992 Albertville 4 x 10 km 1994 Lillehammer 10 km 1994 Lillehammer 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit 1998 Nagano 10 km 1998 Nagano 50 km 1998 Nagano 4 x 10 km 1992 Albertville 30 km 1994 Lillehammer 30 km 1994 Lillehammer 4 x 10km 1998 Nagano 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit World Championships 1991 Val di Fiemme 15 km 1991 Val di Fiemme 4 x 10 km 1993 Falun 30 km 1993 Falun 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit 1993 Falun 4 x 10 km 1995 Thunder Bay 4 x 10 km 1997 Trondheim 10 km 1997 Trondheim 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit 1997 Trondheim 4 x 10 km 1995 Thunder Bay 10 km 1995 Thunder Bay 30 km 1995 Thunder Bay 50 km 1997 Trondheim 30 km 1999 Ramsau 4 x 10 km 1993 Falun 50 km 1997 Trondheim 50 km 1999 Ramsau 30 km

Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie (born 19 June 1967) is a Norwegian businessman and retired cross-country skier. In the years from 1992 to 1999, Dæhlie won the Nordic World Cup 6 times, finishing second in 1994 and 1998. Dæhlie won a total of 29 medals in the Olympics and World Championships in the period between 1991 and 1999, making Dæhlie the most successful cross-country skier in history.

During his career, Dæhlie measured a VO₂ max of 96 ml/kg/min. Dæhlie's result was achieved out of season, and physiologist Erlend Hem who was responsible for the testing stated that he would not discount the possibility of the skier passing 100 ml/kg/min at his absolute peak.

In addition to being an athletic figurehead, Dæhlie is a cultural icon in Norway. Since retiring, Dæhlie has become a successful businessman in real estate and fashion. His real estate investments have produced a fortune of more than a quarter of a billion kroner. Dæhlie has been featured in advertising campaigns, he started a brand of signature ski apparel, and he co-hosted a television show called Gutta på tur. Dæhlie also invented the Salomon Nordic System Pilot Bindings.

Born in Elverum, Norway, Dæhlie later moved to Nannestad, where he settled down. Dæhlie attributes much of his success in sports to his upbringing where he was active in hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, football and of course, skiing from a very early age. For much of his childhood Dæhlie wanted to be a football player, but after being prompted by a coach, he tried Nordic skiing. Dæhlie did not have immediate success as a junior racer, but he consistently improved and eventually qualified for the FIS World Cup competitions.