Dario Cologna
Encyclopedia
Dario Cologna is a Swiss
cross-country skier
. He has two overall World Cup
victories, one Olympic medal, and two Tour de Ski
victories in his career so far.
in Kuusamo
in November 2006, and took his first points in Falun
in March 2007. During the 2007-08 season
, Cologna finished in the top ten four times and placed 37th overall.
In December 2008, Cologna took his first world cup podium finish with a second place in the 30-kilometre competition in La Clusaz
. He went on to win the Tour de Ski
in January 2009, finishing the final event almost a minute ahead of runner-up Petter Northug
. Cologna also won the overall 2008–09 World Cup after winning the last competition in Falun
on 22 March.
In the Vancouver
2010 Winter Olympics
he won the gold medal
in the men's 15km freestyle
event. Cologna is the first Swiss
to win a cross-country skiing
gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
In January 2011 Cologna once again won the Tour de Ski
, finishing the final event almost half a minute ahead of the same runner-up as the year before, Petter Northug
. Cologna won the overall 2010–11 World Cup after finishing 11 races (of the total 21 in which he started) in the top 3.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
cross-country skier
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
. He has two overall World Cup
FIS Cross-Country World Cup
The FIS Cross-Country World Cup is an annual cross-country skiing competition, arranged by the International Ski Federation since 1981. The competition was arranged unofficially between 1973 and 1981, although it received provisional recognition on the 31...
victories, one Olympic medal, and two Tour de Ski
Tour de Ski
Tour de Ski is a cross-country skiing event held annually since 2007 in Central Europe, modeled on the Tour de France of cycling. Races have been held in the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy over eight days. The prize money for the event amounted to 1,055,000 Swiss francs , shared out on both men...
victories in his career so far.
Athletic career
Cologna debuted in the FIS Cross-Country World CupFIS Cross-Country World Cup
The FIS Cross-Country World Cup is an annual cross-country skiing competition, arranged by the International Ski Federation since 1981. The competition was arranged unofficially between 1973 and 1981, although it received provisional recognition on the 31...
in Kuusamo
Kuusamo
Kuusamo is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in the Oulu province and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
in November 2006, and took his first points in Falun
Falun
Falun is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 36,447 inhabitants in 2005. It is also the capital of Dalarna County...
in March 2007. During the 2007-08 season
2007-08 Cross-country Skiing World Cup
The 2007–08 FIS Cross-Country World Cup was a multi-race tournament over the season for cross-country skiers. The season began on 27 October 2007 with 800m sprint races for women in Düsseldorf, won by Natalia Matveeva of Russia, who took her first World Cup victory...
, Cologna finished in the top ten four times and placed 37th overall.
In December 2008, Cologna took his first world cup podium finish with a second place in the 30-kilometre competition in La Clusaz
La Clusaz
La Clusaz is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Overview:It is a ski resort in the Alps near the Swiss border. The commune of La Clusaz is part of the Haute-Savoie département. An old village, La Clusaz has been hosting winter sports since 1907...
. He went on to win the Tour de Ski
Tour de Ski
Tour de Ski is a cross-country skiing event held annually since 2007 in Central Europe, modeled on the Tour de France of cycling. Races have been held in the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy over eight days. The prize money for the event amounted to 1,055,000 Swiss francs , shared out on both men...
in January 2009, finishing the final event almost a minute ahead of runner-up Petter Northug
Petter Northug
Petter Northug Jr. is a Norwegian cross country skier and double Olympic champion. He has 9 World Championship and Winter Olympic gold medals with 13 medals overall, and nine individual FIS Cross-Country World Cup wins with 20 podium places...
. Cologna also won the overall 2008–09 World Cup after winning the last competition in Falun
Falun
Falun is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 36,447 inhabitants in 2005. It is also the capital of Dalarna County...
on 22 March.
In the Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
he won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the men's 15km freestyle
Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 15 kilometre freestyle
The men's 15 kilometre freestyle cross-country skiing competition at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, was held on 15 February at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia, at 12:30 PST....
event. Cologna is the first Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to win a cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
In January 2011 Cologna once again won the Tour de Ski
Tour de Ski
Tour de Ski is a cross-country skiing event held annually since 2007 in Central Europe, modeled on the Tour de France of cycling. Races have been held in the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy over eight days. The prize money for the event amounted to 1,055,000 Swiss francs , shared out on both men...
, finishing the final event almost half a minute ahead of the same runner-up as the year before, Petter Northug
Petter Northug
Petter Northug Jr. is a Norwegian cross country skier and double Olympic champion. He has 9 World Championship and Winter Olympic gold medals with 13 medals overall, and nine individual FIS Cross-Country World Cup wins with 20 podium places...
. Cologna won the overall 2010–11 World Cup after finishing 11 races (of the total 21 in which he started) in the top 3.