Golden Olympic Moments

The Winter Olympic Games have been defined by great achievement: Birger Ruud of Norway’s jumping dominance in 1932 and 1936, Austrian Toni Sailer’s triple gold-medal performance in 1956- a feat duplicated by the legendary Frenchman, Jean-Claude Killy, in 1968. Finland’s Matti Nykaenen won three jumping golds in both 1988 and 1992, and Norway’s Bjorn Daehlie earned double cross-country gold medals in 1992 and 1998.

Certain Games were overwhelmed by golden personalities: a glamorous Stein Eriksen in 1952; a vivacious Canadian, Nancy Greene, in 1968; the stoic Ingemar Stenmark in 1980; and the indefatigable Hermann “Herminator” Maier, who stunned the world with his 1998 crash and golden recovery.

Every four years, a new Olympic episode creates a thousand personal stories. In honor of the 2002 Games, SKI presents a handful of poignant and inspiring gold medal stories.

To view the Golden Olympic Moments, click on the slideshow to your right.