Biography
Ole Einar Bjørndalen was born on 27 January 1974 in Drammen, Norway. He is the most successful and talented professional biathete of all time. Received his nickname 'The King of Biathlon' by being the most medaled Olympian in the history of the Winter Olympic Games, with 13 medals - 8 gold, 4 silver and one bronze. As well as the most accomplished biathlete at World Championships, having won 44 medals - 20 gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze, double that of any other biathlete. His outstanding career record is signed with 95 World Cup victories and he has won the Overall World Cup title six times, in 1997-1998, 2002-2003, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, which makes him more than any other male biathlete. Bjørndalen has 20 discipline titles - one for the Individual in the 2004-2005 season; 9 for the sprint in 1994-1995, 1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2002-2003, 2004-2005, 2007-2008, 2008-2009 seasons; 5 for the pursuit in 1999-2000, 2002-2003, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2008-2009 seasons; 5 for the mass start in 2002-2003, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008 seasons. Ole Einar participated in a total of 514 biathlon and 20 cross-country races. He has 248 biathlon and 5 cross-country podiums. Ole Einar is a solid, steady shooter, but is generally outside the top twenty marksmen. He has stated in interviews many times that he fells more confident about his standing position shooting. However during the 2011-2012 season he registered the lowest 75% success from that position. His percentage during his entire career has always revolve around 80-85% from both standing and prone position. Bjørndalen took part in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. His first appearance occurred in Finland in the 10 km freestyle where finished 23rd. His first podium place in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup was in Kuopio on 25 November 2001, where Ole finished 2nd in the 10 km freestyle. One month later he once again came in 2nd place. Unfortunately lost out to Per Elofsson in the 30 km freestyle mass start in Ramsau, Austria. On 18 November 2006 Ole Einar Bjørndalen made history by becoming the first biathlete to win a FIS Cross-Country World Cup event - the 15 km freestyle in Gällivare. In 2007 his friend and compatriot, biathlete Lars Berger won the 15 km cross-country event at the World Championship in 2007. Bjørndalen has twice finished on the podium in cross-country world cup relays for Norway: in Beitostølen in 2003, where his team finished 3rd, and in La Clusaz in France in 2006, where Norway came in 2nd place. He won Skarverennet in 2006 and 2007, and placed 2nd after Petter Northug in 2008. Ole Einar Bjørndalen has won 4 times at the show event in Gelsenkirchen at the Schalke 04 arena, in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Also he won the biathlon show event in Püttlingen in 2008 together with Kati Wilhelm. He finished 2nd in 2011 with Magdalena Neuner and 3rd in 2005 with Nathalie Santer, now his former wife. The King of Biathlon won the Aftenposten's gold medal in 1998. He was named the Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year in 2002 and 2014. Received the Egebergs Ærespris in 2002 for his remarkable accomplishments in both biathlon and cross-country skiing. Also he was awarded with the Fearnleys Olympic honorary award in 2002. Ole Einar was nominated Laureus World Sportsman of the year in 2003. He came 2nd, after Lance Armstrong that year, who was later rescinded. In 2008, a three meter tall bronze statue of Bjørndalen, a creation of the sculptor, Kirsten Kokkin, was erected in his hometown of Simostranda, Norway. He was awarded the Fair Play Mecenante Award in Castiglion in Fiorentino in Italy in 2009. Bjørndalen was elected Biathlon Athlete of the year 2009. In March 2011, alongside Michael Greis and' Andrea Henkel' was awarded the Holmenkollen Medal - the first biathletes to receive the medal. In November 2014 Ole Einar Bjørndalen was awarded the best male athlete at the Olympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi by the Association des Comités Nationaux Olympiques. At the end of 2015-2016 season, the 42 year old, Ole Einar Bjørndalen finished at number 13 in the overall with 577 points. He hasn't announced his retirement and the media suggests that he may continue his sensational career until the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang. No other biathlete will ever achieve his success nor will have his talent. As for Ole Einar, he will proceed to collect the hearts and respect of his fellow biathletes and devoted fans all over the Earth.
