Todd Lodwick
Encyclopedia
Todd Lodwick is an American
nordic combined
skier and by several measures the most successful North American
in this sport ever. In 2009 he became world champion
in nordic combined.
During his international career between 1993 and 2006 he participated in seven World Championships, five Winter Olympics and 162 World Cup events (placing in the top ten 108 times and the top six 74 times for a total of 28 World Cup podiums). His greatest successes have been 6 World Cup wins—including the 7.5 km sprint event at the 1998 Holmenkollen ski festival
, where he was only the third American to win a medal of any color at this prestigious event—and the gold medal at the 1996 Junior World Championships in Asiago
, Italy. He finished in Top Ten of the World Cup overall standings eight consecutive years with a fourth place being his best result in the seasons 1997/98, 1999/2000 and 2004/05. Furthermore, Lodwick won 19 US-championships in nordic skiing
: 11 in Nordic combined and 8 in ski jumping
. Despite competing on such a high level over a long period of time, Todd had not won a medal at a major event prior to his retirement in 2006.
However, Todd returned to competition in 2008, setting his sights on making the team for the 2010 Olympics.
In February 2009 at the World Championships
in Liberec
, he won two gold medals in Nordic combined, earning them in the 10 km individual normal hill and the 10 km mass start events. It was announced on January 2010 that Lodwick made the US team for the 2010 Winter Olympics
. He also came in fourth in the Nordic Combined 10 km Cross Country on January 14, 2010, 0.7 seconds behind the third place skier. Lodwick was able to earn his first Olympic medal in the Team Competition
on February 23, 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
skier and by several measures the most successful North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
in this sport ever. In 2009 he became world champion
2009 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 took place 18 February – 1 March 2009 in Liberec, Czech Republic. This was the fourth time these championships were hosted either in the Czech Republic or in Czechoslovakia, having done so at Janské Lázně and Vysoké Tatry .The biggest sports event in...
in nordic combined.
During his international career between 1993 and 2006 he participated in seven World Championships, five Winter Olympics and 162 World Cup events (placing in the top ten 108 times and the top six 74 times for a total of 28 World Cup podiums). His greatest successes have been 6 World Cup wins—including the 7.5 km sprint event at the 1998 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...
, where he was only the third American to win a medal of any color at this prestigious event—and the gold medal at the 1996 Junior World Championships in Asiago
Asiago
Asiago is the name of both a minor township and the surrounding plateau region in the Province of Vicenza in the Veneto region of Northeastern Italy...
, Italy. He finished in Top Ten of the World Cup overall standings eight consecutive years with a fourth place being his best result in the seasons 1997/98, 1999/2000 and 2004/05. Furthermore, Lodwick won 19 US-championships in nordic skiing
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
: 11 in Nordic combined and 8 in ski jumping
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
. Despite competing on such a high level over a long period of time, Todd had not won a medal at a major event prior to his retirement in 2006.
However, Todd returned to competition in 2008, setting his sights on making the team for the 2010 Olympics.
In February 2009 at the World Championships
2009 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 took place 18 February – 1 March 2009 in Liberec, Czech Republic. This was the fourth time these championships were hosted either in the Czech Republic or in Czechoslovakia, having done so at Janské Lázně and Vysoké Tatry .The biggest sports event in...
in Liberec
Liberec
Liberec is a city in the Czech Republic. Located on the Lusatian Neisse and surrounded by the Jizera Mountains and Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, it is the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic....
, he won two gold medals in Nordic combined, earning them in the 10 km individual normal hill and the 10 km mass start events. It was announced on January 2010 that Lodwick made the US team for the 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 also came in fourth in the Nordic Combined 10 km Cross Country on January 14, 2010, 0.7 seconds behind the third place skier. Lodwick was able to earn his first Olympic medal in the Team Competition
Nordic combined at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Team large hill/4 x 5 km
The men's team large hill/4 x 5 km Nordic combined competition for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada was held at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia on 23 February. The Austrian team of Michael Gruber, Christoph Bieler, Felix Gottwald, and Mario Stecher were the...
on February 23, 2010.