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Petter Northug
Petter Northug - Ski WM 2011.jpg
Petter Northug during the FIS Nordic Skiing World Championships in Oslo, Norway in February 2011
Country  Norway
Full name Petter Northug Jr.
Born (1986-01-06) 6 January 1986 (age 38)
Framverran, Mosvik, Norway
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Ski club Strindheim IL
World Cup career
Seasons 14 – (2005–2018)
Individual wins 38
Team wins 9
Indiv. podiums 84
Team podiums 12
Indiv. starts 219
Team starts 16
Overall titles 2 – (2010, 2013)
Discipline titles 1 – (1 DI: 2010)
Medal record
Representing  Norway
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 2 1 1
World Championships 13 3 0
Total 15 4 1
Men's cross-country skier
Olympic Games
Gold 2010 Vancouver 50 km classical
Gold 2010 Vancouver Team sprint
Silver 2010 Vancouver 4 × 10 km relay
Bronze 2010 Vancouver Individual sprint
World Championships
Gold 2007 Sapporo 4 × 10 km relay
Gold 2009 Liberec 30 km skiathlon
Gold 2009 Liberec 50 km freestyle
Gold 2009 Liberec 4 × 10 km relay
Gold 2011 Oslo 30 km skiathlon
Gold 2011 Oslo 50 km freestyle
Gold 2011 Oslo 4 × 10 km relay
Gold 2013 Val di Fiemme 15 km freestyle
Gold 2013 Val di Fiemme 4 × 10 km relay
Gold 2015 Falun Individual sprint
Gold 2015 Falun 50 km classical
Gold 2015 Falun Team sprint
Gold 2015 Falun 4 × 10 km relay
Silver 2011 Oslo Individual sprint
Silver 2011 Oslo Team sprint
Silver 2013 Val di Fiemme Individual sprint
Junior World Championships
Gold 2005 Rovaniemi 20 km skiathlon
Gold 2005 Rovaniemi 10 km freestyle
Gold 2006 Kranj Individual sprint
Gold 2006 Kranj 10 km classical
Gold 2006 Kranj 20 km skiathlon
Gold 2006 Kranj 4 × 10 km relay
Silver 2005 Rovaniemi Individual sprint
Silver 2005 Rovaniemi 4 × 10 km relay

Petter Northug Jr. (born 6 January 1986) is a Norwegian former cross-country skier and double Olympic champion. He won a total of 13 World Championship and two Winter Olympic gold medals with 20 medals overall (two gold, one silver and one bronze at the Olympics, 13 gold and three silver at the World Ski Championships), and 18 individual FIS Cross-Country World Cup wins with 13 podium places. He is also the record holder for most stage wins (13) in Tour de Ski. By winning his ninth gold medal in the Nordic World Ski Championships in 4 × 10 km relay in Val di Fiemme 2013, he leveled the achievement of Bjørn Dæhlie who had been the most successful World Champion male skier up to that point. He is considered by many as the greatest cross-country skier of all time.

He is expected to work as a commentator of skiing, on channel TV 2 during the winter of 2021/2022.

Early life and career

During his early years, Northug was generally considered a star of the future. Whilst he was still a junior, Verdens Gang newspaper reported in November 2005 that "the ski manufacturers are fighting to get Northug". Fischer won his signature, and his contract included a base salary (the first time ever for a junior), which would be multiplied by five if he made the Norwegian elite team for 2006/07, a goal he achieved. The contract also offered bonuses if he won medals in the junior World Championships.

Northug has six gold medals from junior World Championships. His first two gold medals came in 2004/05 in the pursuit and the 10 km freestyle in Rovaniemi, then in 2005/06 in Kranj he won gold in the 10 km classic, the pursuit, the sprint, and the relay. He also has two silver medals (one in the sprint, and one in the relay, both in 2004/05). His victories made him the first athlete ever to win five individual gold medals at the FIS Junior Nordic World Ski Championships. During 2005/06 he also took part in the Norwegian National Championships, and won the double pursuit race, beating his compatriot Frode Estil by 1.9 seconds, and becoming the first junior to ever win a Norwegian National Championship.

Before he joined the World Cup he competed in a few Continental Cup meetings, but mostly in the Scandinavian Cup. During his Scandinavian Cup career (2004/05 & 2005/06) he had seven podium finishes, he came second once in 2004/05, and in 2005/06 he scored four victories, and two second places.

Skiing career

The 2005/06 season was Northug's first in the World Cup, although he competed in one race the season before, a sprint in Drammen, he came 35th. During the 2005/06 season he shared his time equally between the World Cup and the Scandinavian Cup, although in early May 2006 it was announced that Northug would be in the senior national team for the 2006/07 season. Northug also claimed his first World Cup victory in the 2005/06 season, in a pursuit race in Falun, beating 2005/06 World Cup winner Tobias Angerer, who came second, and 2004/05 overall champion Axel Teichmann was third. Then in the last race of the year, a pursuit in Sapporo he claimed another podium place, coming second. He lost to Mathias Fredriksson by 3.8 seconds. He also came seventh, tenth, and twelfth in sprint races, and fifteenth in the 50 km freestyle in Holmenkollen. Northug finished the 2005/06 World Cup season in 14th place overall. He also finished 14th in the distance standings, and 24th in the sprint.

After Norway's disappointing display at the 2006 Winter Olympics, the Norwegian press questioned why Northug was not taken to the Games. Northug himself admitted he was disappointed after not getting selected, especially as he had won the double pursuit in the National Championships earlier in the year. The day after the 2006 Olympics Team was announced, Northug was on the team winning the Norwegian Championships in 3x10 kilometer relay. As he crossed the finish line, he shouted "And I am not going to the Olympics?".

Northug won his first gold medal at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Sapporo as a member of the 4 x 10 km relay in 2007. Northug completed the last leg of the relay, beating Sweden and Russia on the sprint for the finish line. He was also in a good position to compete for the silver in the 30 kilometer duathlon, but he fell in the last part of the race and was disappointed to finish fifth.

He was far more successful at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec, where he earned three golds in the 15 km + 15 km double pursuit, 4 x 10 km relay and 50 km freestyle mass start. In all three events he sprinted away from the rest of the pack to win the race.

Northug was the runner up to the overall World Cup in the 2008/2009 season, losing to the Swiss Dario Cologna after leading before the final races.

Northug finished in an extremely disappointing 41st place in the first Cross Country event during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. A day later, Northug responded with a bronze medal in the Sprint Event. This success was short-lived however, as he broke his pole in the end of the 30 km pursuit, where he was one of the biggest favourites to win. He then won his first Olympic gold, in the Team Sprint, alongside Øystein Pettersen.

Days later he was skiing the anchor leg in the 4 x 10 km relay. When he took over from Lars Berger who was skiing the 3rd leg, he was 37.5 seconds behind the lead group. Despite this he managed to catch and overtake France and the Czech Republic to win Norway a silver medal. Northug then won his first individual medal at the Olympics when he won gold at the Men's 50 kilometre classic. Less than two weeks later, he won the 50 kilometre freestyle event at the Holmenkollen, becoming the first skier to win the 50 km at the Winter Olympics, World Championships, and Holmenkollen since Sweden's Gunde Svan reached that triple crown in 1988.

In September 2010 details of Northug's sponsorship contract with soft drink manufacturer Red Bull were publicized by Norwegian broadcaster TV 2, which did not divulge its sources, revealing the most profitable sponsorship agreement with an individual athlete in Norwegian history. For four years, until after the 2014 Winter Olympics, Northug was slated to receive a minimum of NOK 1 million annually with a prospect of getting twice that amount if his performances equalled those of his recent previous seasons.

Northug did not start the 2010–2011 season well, missing the first three weeks of the World Cup due to illness. His Tour de Ski campaign was also marred by relatively poor results in the opening stages. However, he climbed the rankings and finished 2nd after winning the prestigious penultimate stage (20 km classic mass start) in Val di Fiemme. In doing so, he also took all the intermediate bonus sprints, which had never previously been done by the winner of the race. In the Holmenkollen World Ski Championship Northug raced in five disciplines, taking 3 gold and 2 silver medals. During the 2011 World Championship, he gained widespread international attention when he controversially crossed the finish-line sideways after decisively beating his opponents on the last leg of the 4x10 kilometre relay. The gesture was regarded by media as disrespectful, most notably towards his most fierce rival, Marcus Hellner. At the end of the season Northug also won the Season Finale in Sweden, beating his compatriot Finn Haagen Krogh.

In the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2013, Northug won the 15 km freestyle for the first time at a World Championships, completing his collection of World Championship gold medals. He again beat the Swedes on the sprint of the 4x10 km relay, securing Norway's 7th World Championship gold medal in a row in the relay. Northug also won a silver in the individual sprint. He was less successful on the team sprint, where he and his teammate, Pål Golberg, went out in the semifinal. Despite being a favorite before the 50 km, Northug finished 21st. He gave the winner, Johan Olsson, his jersey after the race as a gesture of respect.

Northug had an impressive ending to the 2012–13 season. He won the 15 km individual classic in Lahti by over half a minute before being victorious in the famous classic sprint in Drammen. In the Season Finale in Sweden, Northug won first two stages, the prestigious classic sprint in Stockholm and freestyle prologue in Falun, then finished fourth in the penultimate stage, 15k classic mass start, and closed the season by winning the whole mini-tour. Before Lahti, Northug was in the third place in the World Cup, 226 points behind the lead; by the time it finished, he stood in first, 180 points ahead of second place.

The 2013-14 season saw Northug struggle with an illness which severely impacted his performance. Particularly frustrating for him was his inability to fight for medals in the skiathlon and individual sprint of the Sochi Olympics. His relatively lackluster performance in the 50 km event, which saw him finish a distant 18th in a race he had definitively won four years earlier, meant he left a major world event without a single medal for the first time in eight years.

Northug looked to be in better physical shape in the 2014/2015 season, and proved to be Sundby's strongest competition during that season's Tour de Ski. Despite leading before the final climb up the Alpe Cermis, he lost to Sundby, who won his second TdS title in a row. In July 2016, Sundby lost that title to Northug after Sundby's anti-doping rule violation, thereby giving Northug his first Tour de Ski win.

At the 2015 World Championships in Falun, Northug secured his 10th WC gold medal by narrowly beating Canada's Alex Harvey in a bunch sprint to the finish line in the men's classic sprint event. He then proceeded to contribute to Norway's victory in both the team sprint and 4x10km relay. The final race of these World Championships, i.e. the 50 km classic, saw Northug notch a notable victory. The race was held in difficult conditions due to heavy snowfall; sitting at third in the last climb before the finish, Northug, in a remarkable display of double poling, managed to overtake his remaining two opponents to win the race. As of 2015, Northug had won 20 Olympic and World Championship medals (15 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze).

He announced his retirement from cross-country skiing on 12 December 2018.

Career after competitive skiing

As late as 13 August 2020 he was doing occasional work as a celebrity at summer camp for teenage skiers.

In August 2020 Uno-X said that their sponsorship deal with Northug would be canceled in the near future, due to [the company's view that] Northug "must concentrate about other things".

In November 2020 he released a Christmas song, "Petters Jul".

Personal life

He has two brothers, Even and Tomas. Tomas Northug also skis professionally and won the Junior World Championships in sprint in 2010. Northug finished school in 2006, but during the summer of 2005 he changed schools from Steinkjer to Meråker and moved into a cabin next to the ski trails to optimize his training conditions.

Northug is an active poker player, and has openly supported the legalization of poker in Norway, which is currently illegal when prizes are involved under Norwegian gambling laws. He participated and cashed (on 653rd place) in the 2010 World Series of Poker main event which he played with skiing rival Marcus Hellner.

Northug is featured in the music video "Rise Again" by Jack Taylor, featuring Mo of Norway.

Cross-country skiing results

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

Olympic Games

  • 4 medals – (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
 Year   Age   15 km 
 individual 
 30 km 
 skiathlon 
 50 km 
 mass start 
 Sprint   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
 Team 
 sprint 
2010 24 41 11 Gold Bronze Silver Gold
2014 28 16 18 10 4 4

World Championships

  • 16 medals – (13 gold, 3 silver)
 Year   Age   15 km 
 individual 
 30 km 
 skiathlon 
 50 km 
 mass start 
 Sprint   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
 Team 
 sprint 
2007 21 24 5 Gold 7
2009 23 29 Gold Gold Gold
2011 25 Gold Gold Silver Gold Silver
2013 27 Gold 4 21 Silver Gold 11
2015 29 62 11 Gold Gold Gold Gold
2017 31 8 5

World Cup

Season titles

  • 3 titles – (2 overall, 1 distance)
 Season   Discipline 
2010 Overall
Distance
2013 Overall
 Season   Age  Discipline standings Ski Tour standings
Overall Distance Sprint Nordic
Opening
Tour de
Ski
World Cup
Final
Ski Tour
Canada
2005 19 NC NC N/A N/A N/A N/A
2006 20 14 14 24 N/A N/A N/A N/A
2007 21 7 24 18 N/A 4 N/A N/A
2008 22 12 24 14 N/A 8 6 N/A
2009 23 2 3 5 N/A 2 4 N/A
2010 24 1 1 2 N/A 2 1 N/A
2011 25 2 4 7 2 1 N/A
2012 26 3 5 21 1 3 N/A
2013 27 1 3 2 1 4 1 N/A
2014 28 6 9 25 13 3 N/A
2015 29 2 5 8 15 1 N/A N/A
2016 30 2 8 2 2 4 N/A 3
2017 31 65 118 27 DNF N/A
2018 32 NC NC N/A

Individual podiums

  • 38 victories – (20 WC, 18 SWC)
  • 84 podiums – (40 WC, 44 SWC)
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place
1 2005–06 8 March 2006 Sweden Falun, Sweden 10 km + 10 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 1st
2 19 March 2006 Japan Sapporo, Japan 15 km + 15 km Pursuit C/F World Cup 2nd
3 2006–07 5 January 2007 Italy Asiago, Italy 1.2 km Sprint F Stage World Cup 3rd
4 10 March 2007 Finland Lahti, Finland 1.4 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
5 2007–08 4 January 2008 Italy Asiago, Italy 1.2 km Sprint F Stage World Cup 1st
6 2008–09 22 November 2008 Sweden Gällivare, Sweden 15 km Individual F World Cup 3rd
7 6 December 2008 France La Clusaz, France 30 km Mass Start F World Cup 1st
8 27 December 2008 Germany Oberhof, Germany 3.75 km Individual F Stage World Cup 3rd
9 1 January 2009 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 1.2 km Sprint F Stage World Cup 1st
10 27 December 2008 –
4 January 2009
GermanyCzech RepublicItaly Tour de Ski Overall Standings World Cup 2nd
11 7 March 2009 Finland Lahti, Finland 1.55 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
12 12 March 2009 Norway Trondheim, Norway 1.6 km Sprint C World Cup 2nd
13 2009–10 12 March 2009 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 1.7 km Sprint F World Cup 2nd
14 29 November 2009 Finland Rukatunturi, Finland 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
15 19 December 2009 Slovenia Rogla, Slovenia 1.5 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
16 20 December 2009 30 km Mass Start C World Cup 1st
17 1 January 2010 Germany Oberhof, Germany 3.75 km Individual F Stage World Cup 1st
18 2 January 2010 15 km Pursuit C Stage World Cup 1st
19 3 January 2010 1.6 km Sprint C Stage World Cup 2nd
20 6 January 2010 Italy Cortina-Toblach, Italy 35 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 1st
21 7 January 2010 Italy Toblach, Italy 10 km Individual C Stage World Cup 3rd
22 9 January 2010 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 20 km Mass Start C Stage World Cup 2nd
23 1–10 January 2010 GermanyCzech RepublicItaly Tour de Ski Overall Standings World Cup 2nd
24 11 March 2010 Norway Drammen, Norway 1.2 km Sprint C World Cup 2nd
25 13 March 2010 Norway Oslo, Norway 50 km Mass Start F World Cup 1st
26 17 March 2010 Sweden Stockholm, Sweden 1.0 km Sprint C Stage World Cup 2nd
27 20 March 2010 Sweden Falun, Sweden 10 km + 10 km Pursuit C/F Stage World Cup 1st
28 17–21 March 2010 Sweden World Cup Final Overall Standings World Cup 1st
29 2010–11 18 December 2010 France La Clusaz, France 30 km Mass Start F World Cup 2nd
30 31 December 2010 Germany Oberhof, Germany 3.75 km Individual F Stage World Cup 3rd
31 5 January 2011 Italy Toblach, Italy 1.3 km Sprint F Stage World Cup 3rd
32 5 January 2011 Italy Cortina-Toblach, Italy 35 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 3rd
33 8 January 2011 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 20 km Mass Start C Stage World Cup 1st
34 31 December 2010 –
9 January 2011
GermanyItaly Tour de Ski Overall Standings World Cup 2nd
35 19 February 2011 Norway Drammen, Norway 15 km Individual C World Cup 3rd
36 20 February 2011 1.6 km Sprint F World Cup 3rd
37 16 March 2011 Sweden Stockholm, Sweden 1.0 km Sprint C Stage World Cup 2nd
38 18 March 2011 Sweden Falun, Sweden 3.3 km Individual C Stage World Cup 2nd
39 19 March 2011 10 km + 10 km Pursuit C/F Stage World Cup 1st
40 16–20 March 2011 Sweden World Cup Final Overall Standings World Cup 1st
41 2011–12 19 November 2011 Norway Sjusjøen, Norway 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
42 26 November 2011 Finland Rukatunturi, Finland 10 km Individual F Stage World Cup 1st
43 25–27 November 2011 Finland Nordic Opening Overall Standings World Cup 1st
44 10 December 2011 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 30 km Individual F World Cup 1st
45 17 December 2011 Slovenia Rogla, Slovenia 15 km Mass Start C World Cup 1st
46 29 December 2011 Germany Oberhof, Germany 3.75 km Individual F Stage World Cup 1st
47 30 December 2011 15 km Pursuit C Stage World Cup 2nd
48 1 January 2012 10 km + 10 km Skiathlon C/F Stage World Cup 1st
49 4 January 2012 Italy Toblach, Italy 1.3 km Sprint F Stage World Cup 2nd
50 5 January 2012 35 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 2nd
51 29 December 2011 –
8 January 2012
GermanyItaly Tour de Ski Overall Standings World Cup 3rd
52 2012–13 30 November 2012 Finland Rukatunturi, Finland 1.4 km Sprint C Stage World Cup 2nd
53 1 December 2012 10 km Individual F Stage World Cup 2nd
54 30 November –
2 December 2012
Finland Nordic Opening Overall Standings World Cup 1st
55 29 December 2012 Germany Oberhof, Germany 4 km Individual F Stage World Cup 1st
56 30 December 2012 15 km Pursuit C Stage World Cup 3rd
57 3 January 2013 Italy Cortina-Toblach, Italy 35 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 1st
58 3 January 2013 Italy Toblach, Italy 5 km Individual C Stage World Cup 2nd
59 1 February 2013 Russia Sochi, Russia 1.8 km Sprint F World Cup 1st
60 10 March 2013 Finland Lahti, Finland 15 km Individual C World Cup 1st
61 13 March 2013 Norway Drammen, Norway 1.3 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
62 20 March 2013 Sweden Stockholm, Sweden 1.1 km Sprint C Stage World Cup 1st
63 22 March 2013 Sweden Falun, Sweden 3.75 km Individual F Stage World Cup 1st
64 20–24 March 2013 Sweden World Cup Final Overall Standings World Cup 1st
65 2013–14 3 January 2014 Italy Cortina-Toblach, Italy 35 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 2nd
66 4 January 2014 Italy Val di Fiemme, Italy 10 km Individual C Stage World Cup 1st
67 28 December 2013 –
5 January 2014
GermanySwitzerlandItaly Tour de Ski Overall Standings World Cup 3rd
68 2014–15 29 November 2014 Finland Rukatunturi, Finland 1.4 km Sprint C World Cup 2nd
69 24 December 2014 Switzerland Davos, Switzerland 15 km Individual F World Cup 2nd
70 3 January 2015 Germany Oberstdorf, Germany 4 km Individual F Stage World Cup 3rd
71 4 January 2015 15 km Pursuit C Stage World Cup 1st
72 6 January 2015 Switzerland Val Müstair, Switzerland 1.4 km Sprint F Stage World Cup 2nd
73 8 January 2015 Italy Toblach, Italy 25 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 1st
74 3–11 January 2015 GermanySwitzerlandItaly Tour de Ski Overall Standings World Cup 1st
75 2015–16 27 November 2015 Finland Rukatunturi, Finland 1.4 km Sprint C Stage World Cup 3rd
76 27–29 November 2015 Finland Nordic Opening Overall Standings World Cup 2nd
77 2 January 2016 Switzerland Lenzerheide, Switzerland 30 km Mass Start C Stage World Cup 2nd
78 3 January 2016 10 km Pursuit F Stage World Cup 2nd
79 3 February 2016 Norway Drammen, Norway 1.2 km Sprint C World Cup 1st
80 11 February 2016 Sweden Stockholm, Sweden 1.2 km Sprint C World Cup 3rd
81 20 February 2016 Finland Lahti, Finland 1.6 km Sprint F World Cup 3rd
82 2 March 2016 Canada Montreal, Canada 17.5 km Mass Start F Stage World Cup 2nd
83 5 March 2016 Canada Quebec City, Canada 15 km Pursuit Stage World Cup 2nd
84 1–12 March 2016 Canada Ski Tour Canada Overall Standings World Cup 3rd

Team podiums

  • 9 victories – (9 RL)
  • 12 podiums – (12 RL)
No. Season Date Location Race Level Place Teammates
1 2006–07 17 December 2006 France La Clusaz, France 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 2nd Bjørndalen / Hetland / Rønning
2 25 March 2007 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Pettersen Hjelmeset / Estil
3 2007–08 24 February 2008 Sweden Falun, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Sundby / Jespersen / Eilifsen
4 2008–09 23 November 2008 Sweden Gällivare, Sweden 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Sundby / Rønning / Hofstad
5 7 December 2008 France La Clusaz, France 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Hetland / Sundby / Gjerdalen
6 2009–10 22 November 2009 Norway Beitostølen, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Rønning / Sundby / Hafsås
7 2010–11 19 December 2010 France La Clusaz, France 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Rønning / Sundby / Gjerdalen
8 2011–12 22 November 2011 Norway Sjusjøen, Norway 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Rønning / Krogh / Berger
9 12 January 2012 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 4 × 10 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Rønning / Dyrhaug / Sundby
10 2012–13 25 November 2012 Sweden Gällivare, Sweden 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Rønning / Sundby / Røthe
11 2013–14 8 December 2013 Norway Lillehammer, Norway 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F World Cup 3rd Golberg / Tønseth / Sundby
12 2015–16 6 December 2015 Sweden Gällivare, Sweden 4 × 7.5 km Relay C/F World Cup 1st Dyrhaug / Holund / Sundby

See also

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