Oddvar Brå
Encyclopedia
Oddvar Brå is a Norwegian
former cross-country skier. He was among the best skiers in Norway
, winner three times og World Cup (1972-73(named Word ranking),1974-75 and 1978-79)winning 16 national championships, but his success in the major international championships was more modest. He participated internationally from the 1972 Winter Olympics
to the 1989 Holmenkollen ski festival
, but his first individual major international win was at the 1982 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
in Oslo
, where he won the 15 km event. In the same championship, he won a shared gold medal (Soviet Union
) in the relay after a dramatic finish where his ski pole broke, something which forever became a memory for every man in Norway, leading to the popular all-Norwegian expression "Hvor var du da Brå brakk staven?" ("Where were you when Brå broke his pole?"). Brå also won three relay medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
with a gold in 1982 and bronzes in 1974 and 1978. Brå additionally won two silver medals in the 4 x 10 km at the 1972 Winter Olympics
and the 1980 Winter Olympics
.
He also won the 15 km at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 1980 and 1982, and the 50 km in 1975, 1979, and 1981. In 1975, Brå was awarded the Holmenkollen medal
(shared with Gerhard Grimmer
and Ivar Formo
).
Brå's best individual achievement in the Olympics was a 4th position in the 15 km event in the 1988 Winter Olympics
in Calgary
. He received the Egebergs Ærespris
in 1987 for his accomplishments in cross-country skiing and athletics (track and field)
.
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...
former cross-country skier. He was among the best skiers in Norway
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...
, winner three times og World Cup (1972-73(named Word ranking),1974-75 and 1978-79)winning 16 national championships, but his success in the major international championships was more modest. He participated internationally from the 1972 Winter Olympics
1972 Winter Olympics
The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from February 3 to February 13, 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan...
to the 1989 Holmenkollen ski festival
Holmenkollen 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...
, but his first individual major international win was at the 1982 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
1982 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1982 took place 19-28 February 1982 in Oslo, Norway at the Holmenkollen ski arena. This was Oslo's record-tying fourth time hosting the event after previously doing so in 1930, the 1952 Winter Olympics, and 1966. The Nordic combined 3 × 10 km team event and...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, where he won the 15 km event. In the same championship, he won a shared gold medal (Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
) in the relay after a dramatic finish where his ski pole broke, something which forever became a memory for every man in Norway, leading to the popular all-Norwegian expression "Hvor var du da Brå brakk staven?" ("Where were you when Brå broke his pole?"). Brå also won three relay medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
FIS 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...
with a gold in 1982 and bronzes in 1974 and 1978. Brå additionally won two silver medals in the 4 x 10 km at the 1972 Winter Olympics
1972 Winter Olympics
The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from February 3 to February 13, 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan...
and the 1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
.
He also won the 15 km at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 1980 and 1982, and the 50 km in 1975, 1979, and 1981. In 1975, Brå was awarded 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....
(shared with Gerhard Grimmer
Gerhard Grimmer
Gerhard Grimmer was an East German cross-country skier who competed during the 1960s and 1970s. He won several medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, including golds in the 50 km and the 4 x 10 km relay ; silvers in the 30 km , 4 x 10 km relay , and 15 km ; and...
and Ivar Formo
Ivar Formo
Ivar Formo was a Norwegian cross-country skier who competed during the 1970s. He won four medals at the Winter Olympics. Formo also won two bronze medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in the 4 x 10 km relay...
).
Brå's best individual achievement in the Olympics was a 4th position in the 15 km event in the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. He received the Egebergs Ærespris
Egebergs Ærespris
The Egebergs Ærespris is a prize awarded to Norwegian athletes who excel in more than one sport. The prize was created by Ferdinand Julian Egeberg, and consists of a bronze statuette modelled by sculptor Magnus Vigrestad.-History:...
in 1987 for his accomplishments in cross-country skiing and athletics (track and field)
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
.
Reference
- Holmenkollen medalists - click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file
- Holmenkollen winners since 1892 - click Vinnere for downloadable pdf file