Oddbjørn Hagen
Encyclopedia
Oddbjørn Hagen (3 February 1908, Ytre Rendal
, Hedmark
– 25 June 1983) was a Norwegian
skier who competed in nordic combined
and cross-country skiing
. He was both Olympic champion and world champion.
, Hagen won one gold in the Nordic combined and two silvers in cross-country skiing. The cross country relay event
saw its first Olympic appearance in 1936. Hagen had the first leg, and finished his leg one minute ahead of Finland's Sulo Nurmela
, with Sweden's John Berger
fifteen seconds further behind. Kalle Jalkanen
on the final leg secured Finland the relay victory, six seconds before the Norwegian team.
The 18 kilometre cross-country skiing race
was also the first part of the Nordic combined. Hagen finished second in the 18 km, behind Sweden's Erik August Larsson
, earning him a silver medal. After the ski jumping the next day, he secured the gold medal in the combined
.
, Hagen won golds in the individual Nordic combined (1934, 1935) and silvers in the men's 4 x 10 km and the men's 18 km (both 1935). Hagen's consecutive world championships in Nordic combined would not be repeated until fellow Norwegian Bjarte Engen Vik
won the event in 1999 and 2001. In the 4 x 10 km in Sollefteå in 1934, Hagen had the final leg, and while battling with Sweden's Arthur Häggblad
for the silver medal they both got off course and lost ten minutes. The two were passed by Germany, and Hagen finished 4th behind the Swedish team.
, Hagen won the Nordic combined event three times (1932, 1934, and 1935). For his Nordic combined successes at the Olympics, Holmenkollen, and World Championships, Hagen earned the Holmenkollen medal
in 1934.
Hagen hailed from Ytre Rendal
, and competed for Bækkelagets SK
in Oslo. He received the King's Cup five times.
Ytre Rendal
Ytre Rendal is a former municipality in Hedmark county, Norway.It was originally a part of Rendal formannskapsdistrikt. On January 1, 1880 Rendal was split in two to create the municipalities Ytre Rendal and Øvre Rendal...
, Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
– 25 June 1983) was a Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
skier who competed in nordic combined
Nordic combined
The Nordic combined is a winter sport in which athletes compete in both cross-country skiing and ski jumping.- History :While Norwegian soldiers are known to have been competing in Nordic skiing since the 19th century, the first major competition in Nordic combined was held in 1892 in Oslo at the...
and 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...
. He was both Olympic champion and world champion.
Olympic games
At the 1936 Winter Olympics1936 Winter Olympics
The 1936 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1936 in the market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. Germany also hosted the Summer Olympics the same year in Berlin...
, Hagen won one gold in the Nordic combined and two silvers in cross-country skiing. The cross country relay event
Cross-country skiing at the 1936 Winter Olympics - Men's 4x10 km relay
The 4x10 kilometre relay cross-country skiing event was part of the cross-country skiing at the 1936 Winter Olympics programme. It was the first appearance of the event. The competition was held on Monday, February 10, 1936....
saw its first Olympic appearance in 1936. Hagen had the first leg, and finished his leg one minute ahead of Finland's Sulo Nurmela
Sulo Nurmela
Sulo Nurmela was a Finnish cross-country skier who competed in the 1930s. He won a gold medal at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the 4 x 10 km relay....
, with Sweden's John Berger
John Berger (cross country skier)
John Berger was a Swedish cross-country skier who competed in the 1930s. He won a bronze medal in the 4 x 10km relay at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.-External links:*...
fifteen seconds further behind. Kalle Jalkanen
Kalle Jalkanen
Kalle Jalkanen was a Finnish cross-country skier who competed in the late 1930s. He won a gold medal at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the 4 x 10 km relay...
on the final leg secured Finland the relay victory, six seconds before the Norwegian team.
The 18 kilometre cross-country skiing race
Cross-country skiing at the 1936 Winter Olympics - Men's 18 km
The 18 kilometre cross-country skiing event was part of the cross-country skiing at the 1936 Winter Olympics programme. It was the fourth appearance of the event. The competition was held on Wednesday, February 12, 1936....
was also the first part of the Nordic combined. Hagen finished second in the 18 km, behind Sweden's Erik August Larsson
Erik August Larsson
Erik August Larsson was a Swedish cross-country skier who competed in the 1930s...
, earning him a silver medal. After the ski jumping the next day, he secured the gold medal in the combined
Nordic combined at the 1936 Winter Olympics
At the 1936 Winter Olympics, one individual Nordic combined event was contested. It was held on Wednesday, February 12, 1936 and on Thursday, February 13, 1936 .-Medalists:-Cross-country skiing:...
.
World championships
At the FIS Nordic World Ski ChampionshipsFIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
, Hagen won golds in the individual Nordic combined (1934, 1935) and silvers in the men's 4 x 10 km and the men's 18 km (both 1935). Hagen's consecutive world championships in Nordic combined would not be repeated until fellow Norwegian Bjarte Engen Vik
Bjarte Engen Vik
Bjarte Engen Vik is a former Norwegian nordic combined athlete. He won the FIS World Cup overall twice, in 1997/98 and 1998/99 with a total of 24 wins...
won the event in 1999 and 2001. In the 4 x 10 km in Sollefteå in 1934, Hagen had the final leg, and while battling with Sweden's Arthur Häggblad
Arthur Häggblad
Arthur Häggblad was a Swedish cross-country skier who competed in the 1930s...
for the silver medal they both got off course and lost ten minutes. The two were passed by Germany, and Hagen finished 4th behind the Swedish team.
Holmenkollen
At the Holmenkollen ski festivalHolmenkollen ski festival
The Holmenkollen Ski Festival is a traditional annual Nordic skiing event in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The full official name of the event is Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic. It takes place in March and has been arranged every year since 1892, except for 1898 and during World War II...
, Hagen won the Nordic combined event three times (1932, 1934, and 1935). For his Nordic combined successes at the Olympics, Holmenkollen, and World Championships, Hagen earned the Holmenkollen medal
Holmenkollen medal
The Holmenkollen medal is Norwegian skiing's highest award for competitors. It signifies top placings in international championships and other international events, including the Holmenkollen events....
in 1934.
Hagen hailed from Ytre Rendal
Ytre Rendal
Ytre Rendal is a former municipality in Hedmark county, Norway.It was originally a part of Rendal formannskapsdistrikt. On January 1, 1880 Rendal was split in two to create the municipalities Ytre Rendal and Øvre Rendal...
, and competed for Bækkelagets SK
Bækkelagets SK
Bækkelagets Sportsklub is a Norwegian sports club from Bekkelaget in southern Oslo, founded in 1909. The club has sections for skiing , orienteering, handball, football, floorball and track and field athletics...
in Oslo. He received the King's Cup five times.