Wikipedia

Gunde Svan

Gunde Anders Svan (born 12 January 1962) is a Swedish former cross-country skier and auto racing driver. During his cross-country skiing career he won a total of four gold, one silver and one bronze medals at the Winter Olympics. Svan won a total of seven golds, three silvers, and one bronze at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Svan also won the 15 km once (1983) and the 50 km twice (1986, 1990) at the Holmenkollen ski festival. In 1984, he earned the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal, and in 1985, he earned the Holmenkollen medal (shared with Anette Bøe and Per Bergerud). In both 1984 and 1985 did Svan win the Jerring Award.[2] He is a board member of the International Ski Federation.

Gunde Svan
Gunde Svan in 2019
Country Sweden
Full nameGunde Anders Svan
Born (1962-01-12) 12 January 1962 (age 62)
Dala-Järna, Sweden
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in) [1]
Spouse(s)Marie Svan
Ski clubDala-Järna IK
World Cup career
Seasons10 – (1982–1991)
Starts71
Podiums46
Wins30
Overall titles5 – (1984–1986, 1988, 1989)
Medal record
Men's cross-country skiing
Representing  Sweden
International nordic ski competitions
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 4 1 1
World Championships 7 3 1
Total 11 4 2
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1984 Sarajevo 15 km
Gold medal – first place 1984 Sarajevo 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal – first place 1988 Calgary 50 km freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1988 Calgary 4 × 10 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1984 Sarajevo 50 km
Bronze medal – third place 1984  Sarajevo 30 km
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1985 Seefeld 30 km
Gold medal – first place 1985 Seefeld 50 km
Gold medal – first place 1987 Oberstdorf 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal – first place 1989 Lahti 15 km freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1989 Lahti 50 km freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1989 Lahti 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal – first place 1991 Val di Fiemme 30 km classical
Silver medal – second place 1991 Val di Fiemme 15 km freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1991 Val di Fiemme 50 km freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1991 Val di Fiemme 4 × 10 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1985 Seefeld 4 × 10 km relay
Junior World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1982 Murau 3 × 5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1980 Örnsköldsvik 3 × 5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1981 Schonach 3 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1981 Schonach 15 km

Biography

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During his skiing career he became known for his dedication and attention to detail. For instance, he used a lighter alloy on the tips of his ski poles, saving four grams (0.14 oz). He won two golds (15 km and relay), one bronze (30 km) and one silver (50 km) at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, he won two golds for 50 km and relay. He also won the World championship gold six times and won the World cup five times.

As a competitor in rallycross he got one gold medal in the Swedish Championship and a bronze medal in the FIA European Championship for Rallycross Drivers (1995: Division 1 – Group N category; with a Toyota Celica GT-Four). One of the reasons for getting into another sport was that some people called him a natural skier while he himself maintained that it's just a matter of will and dedication, according to his famous tagline "nothing is impossible". He applied the same methods to his driving as his skiing and even built his own reaction-tester to practice for the rallycross eminently important starts. When his compatriot and teamboss, the late Christer Bohlin, was not able to fulfill his promise to upgrade his Toyota team for 1996 into the top ERC category (Division 2 by then), Svan quit and gave up rallycross.

After retiring from his athletic career he has worked as the host for some game shows such as the Swedish versions of American Gladiators and Fort Boyard along the swedish national lotery Bingolotto. He has played a seductive lady in the short movie En handelsresandes nöd, directed by rock group Svenne Rubins and starring Claes Månsson, Björn Skifs and Gert Klötzke. He has also appeared in numerous commercials including a famous commercial where he impersonated fellow skier Thomas Wassberg.

Svan resigned from his position as Chief of Cross-Country for Sweden on the week of 4 May 2009 after he was involved in its reorganization.

He participated in Let's Dance 2018 broadcast on TV4 where he finished third together with Jeanette Carlsson.

He retired to his 1,000-hectare (2,500-acre) forest farm, where he worked with his son, Ferry Svan, and now supports his children's careers.[3]

Cross-country skiing results

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All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[4]

Olympic Games

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  • 6 medals – (4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
 Year   Age   15 km   30 km   50 km   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1984 22 Gold Bronze Silver Gold
1988 26 14 10 Gold Gold

World Championships

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  • 11 medals – (7 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)
 Year   Age   10 km   15 km 
 classical  		 15 km  
 freestyle  		 30 km   50 km   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1982 20 — 13 — — — —
1985 23 — 5 — Gold Gold Bronze
1987 25 — — — 7 — Gold
1989 27 — 6 Gold — Gold Gold
1991 29 — — Silver Gold Silver Silver

World Cup

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Season titles

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  • 5 titles – (5 overall)
  Season
Discipline
1984 Overall
1985 Overall
1986 Overall
1988 Overall
1989 Overall

Season standings

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 Season   Age  Overall
1982 20 57
1983 21  
1984 22  
1985 23  
1986 24  
1987 25  
1988 26  
1989 27  
1990 28  
1991 29 8

Individual podiums

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  • 30 victories
  • 46 podiums
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place
1 1982–83 12 March 1983   Oslo, Norway 50 km Individual World Cup 3rd
2 19 March 1983   Anchorage, United States 15 km Individual World Cup 1st
3 27 March 1983   Labrador City, Canada 30 km Individual World Cup 1st
4 1983–84 16 December 1983   Ramsau, Austria 30 km Individual World Cup 1st
5 10 February 1984   Sarajevo, Yugoslavia 30 km Individual Olympic Games[1] 3rd
6 13 February 1984 15 km Individual Olympic Games[1] 1st
7 19 February 1984 50 km Individual Olympic Games[1] 2nd
8 25 February 1984   Falun, Sweden 30 km Individual World Cup 1st
9 2 March 1984   Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual World Cup 3rd
10 10 March 1984   Oslo, Norway 50 km Individual World Cup 3rd
11 17 March 1984   Fairbanks, United States 15 km Individual World Cup 1st
12 1984–85 9 December 1984   Cogne, Italy 15 km Individual World Cup 3rd
13 18 January 1985   Seefeld, Austria 30 km Individual World Championships[1] 1st
14 27 January 1985 50 km Individual World Championships[1] 1st
15 16 February 1985   Aleko, Bulgaria 15 km Individual World Cup 1st
16 23 February 1985   Syktyvkar, Soviet Union 15 km Individual World Cup 1st
17 9 March 1985   Falun, Sweden 30 km Individual World Cup 1st
18 14 March 1985   Oslo, Norway 15 km Individual World Cup 2nd
19 1985–86 8 December 1985   Labrador City, Canada 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
20 14 December 1985   Biwabik, United States 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
21 11 January 1986   La Bresse, France 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
22 15 January 1986   Bohinj, Yugoslavia 5 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
23 14 February 1986   Oberstdorf, West Germany 50 km Individual F World Cup 1st
24 23 February 1986   Kavgolovo, Soviet Union 15 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
25 2 March 1986   Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
26 14 March 1986   Oslo, Norway 50 km Individual C World Cup 1st
27 1986–87 10 December 1986   Ramsau, Austria 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
28 13 December 1986   Cogne, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
29 1987–88 12 December 1987   La Clusaz, France 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
30 15 December 1987   Kastelruth, Italy 30 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
31 19 December 1987   Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
32 27 February 1988   Calgary, Canada 50 km Individual F Olympic Games[1] 1st
33 1988–89 10 December 1988   Ramsau, Austria 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
34 14 December 1988   Bohinj, Yugoslavia 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
35 17 December 1988   Val di Sole, Italy 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
36 13 January 1989   Nové Město, Czechoslovakia 15 km Individual F World Cup 1st
37 15 January 1989 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
38 20 February 1989   Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual F World Championships[1] 1st
39 26 February 1989 50 km Individual F World Championships[1] 1st
40 1989–90 13 January 1990   Moscow, Soviet Union 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
41 21 February 1990   Val di Fiemme, Italy 30 km Individual C World Cup 1st
42 6 March 1990   Trondheim, Norway 15 km Individual C World Cup 2nd
43 17 March 1990   Vang, Norway 50 km Individual F World Cup 1st
44 1990–91 7 February 1991   Val di Fiemme, Italy 30 km Individual C World Championships[1] 1st
45 9 February 1991 15 km Individual F World Championships[1] 2nd
46 17 February 1991 50 km Individual F World Championships[1] 2nd

Team podiums

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  • 9 victories
  • 14 podiums
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammates
1 1983–84 16 February 1984   Sarajevo, Yugoslavia 4 × 10 km Relay Olympic Games[1] 1st Wassberg / Kohlberg / Ottosson
2 25 February 1984   Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay World Cup 1st Östlund / Wassberg / Ottosson
3  1984–85  24 January 1985   Seefeld, Austria 4 × 10 km Relay World Championships[1] 3rd Östlund / Wassberg / Eriksson
4 10 March 1985   Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay World Cup 2nd Östlund / Wassberg / Mogren
5 17 March 1985   Oslo, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay World Cup 1st Eriksson / Danielsson / Wassberg
6 1985–86 9 March 1986   Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Östlund / Eriksson / Mogren
7 13 March 1986   Oslo, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Östlund / Eriksson / Mogren
8 1986–87 17 February 1987   Oberstdorf, West Germany 4 × 10 km Relay F World Championships[1] 1st Östlund / Wassberg / Mogren
9 1987–88 24 February 1988   Calgary, Canada 4 × 10 km Relay F Olympic Games[1] 1st Ottosson / Wassberg / Mogren
10 13 March 1988   Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay F World Cup 1st Ottosson / Mogren / Majbäck
11 17 March 1988   Oslo, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C World Cup 2nd Ottosson / Mogren / Majbäck
12 1988–89 24 February 1989   Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Championships[1] 1st Majbäck / Håland / Mogren
13  1990–91  15 February 1991   Val di Fiemme, Italy 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Championships[1] 2nd Eriksson / Majbäck / Mogren
14 1 March 1991   Lahti, Finland 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Eriksson / Mogren / Forsberg

Note: 1 Until the 1999 World Championships and the 1994 Winter Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.

Racing record

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Complete FIA European Rallycross Championship results

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Division 1

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Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Position Points
1994 Christer Bohlin Motorsport Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD AUT
5 		POR
6 		FRA
3 		IRE
(8) 		GBR
5 		SWE
7 		FIN
2 		BEL
(7) 		NED
(7) 		NOR
(8) 		GER
3 		5th 92
1995 Christer Bohlin Motorsport Toyota Celica GT-Four AUT
3 		POR
(5) 		FRA
1 		SWE
2 		GBR
3 		IRE
(7) 		BEL
3 		NED
3 		NOR
(6) 		FIN
2 		CZE
2 		GER
(4) 		3rd 131

References

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  1. ^ "Anthropometric Measurements of Olympic Cross-Country Skiers".
  2. ^ "SR Minnen: Jerringpristagare". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). 2014-11-26. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  3. ^ "Cross-country skiing legend Gunde Svan: "Forestry work is a nice counterbalance to TV work"". Valtra. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  4. ^ "SVAN Gunde". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
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Preceded by Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
1984 		Succeeded by
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