Arguably the greatest male cross country skier of all time. Certainly the most sensational. Undeniably the skier who has changed the sport more than anyone else. There never has been, and never will be, another skier like Petter Northug.

preface

Already at the age of nine, an insatiable desire to win began to grow in Petter. It didn't matter if it was skiing, ski jumping, athletics or football
— Petter wanted nothing more than to achieve victory.
He was always determined to win, regardless of whether he finished in the middle of the group or took second place.

Petter grew up in the village of Mosvik, about two hours by car from Trondheim. Most of his childhood was spent working on the family farm and participating in a variety of sports.

Childhood

06.01.1986

born

Petter jr.

As a junior, Petter brought six gold medals from the World Championships. In his youth, the trademark features of a skier were formed — powerful acceleration at the finish line and extravagant behavior after a victory. Having made sure that the rivals were far behind, Northug could cross the finish line, moving with his back, or twerk on skis for joy.

The star of the future - that's what many journalists called Northug at the beginning of his sports career, and they did not lose. Several manufacturers of ski equipment fought for the contract with him at once. The victory in this confrontation was won by Fisher.

since

2005/06

2006

deferred dreams

Unfulfilled

vow

In 2006, the Winter Olympics were held in Turin, Italy, but Northug did not make the national team. The Scandinavians won 3 silver and one bronze medals. Such a performance was considered a failure. Then many, like Northug himself, wondered why he was not taken to the Olympics.

Petter has 13 medals of the highest dignity, which he began collecting in 2007, and finished at the World Cup in Swedish Falun in 2015, when he was able to win 4 races out of 6, despite the fact that he was predicted to end his career the day before.

Petter Northug is the only skier in history who was able to win medals at the World Championships in all 6 modern disciplines: the peak Norwegian was the best in any discipline, from sprint to marathon, classics and skating.

In 2009 and in 2011, he became the "king of skiing" — this is an unofficial status given to a champion in 30 and 50 km races, the most classic disciplines in cross-country skiing.

And two years later in Liberec he won his first gold medal of the world championship in the individual race.

The first major success for Northug came at the World Championship, which was held in 2007 in Sapporo. Winning the relay race.

In the Olympic Turin 2006, he was only 20 years old, and it turned out to be impossible to get into the Norwegian national team at that age. In Vancouver in 2010, where, according to experts, he was supposed to take almost all the medals. It turned out only a bronze in the individual sprint, a victory in the team sprint and a personal gold in the classic marathon. Petter couldn't do anything in Sochi in 2014.

Yes, Northug has "only" two Olympic gold medals, although in terms of the amount of influence and bright performances, it seems that he should have had more.

Petter Northug is a real rebel, his ambiguous behavior and harsh statements often led to conflicts

On May 4, 2014, while intoxicated, he got into a car accident near Trondheim. Northug fled the scene of the accident, but after a few hours was found at his home near the scene of the incident.

In a press release issued after the accident, Northug apologized for his actions. In October 2014, a trial took place, Northug was sentenced to 50 days in prison, fined NOK 185,000, and was also deprived of his driver's license. Northug accepted the court's decision and refused to appeal.

“And I made a decision. During this time, I will gain the shape of a lifetime. It was the only thing I knew how to do. It was the only thing I could do. A step on the way to making things right.”

about

Northug is a super athlete, a provocateur, sometimes a brawler and a criminal. But even if you didn't catch his tricks and in general in recent years you only got to ski races by accident, you still know from somewhere: Petter is a legend of ski racing.

or

game over

2018

On December 12th, 2018, the 32-year-old Petter decided to retire and made a corresponding statement at a press conference.

19/02/2015

Sprint at the World Cup after a spree, an accident and prison, less than a year flew by

The Norwegian took the last discipline, where he did not have a World Cup gold. Then he hugged his rivals and his brother and bowed to the stands.

27/02/2013

World Cup race with a separate start skating style

A deep knockout at the finish, then roars and tears. Northug convinced that he is capable of gnawing out the ending not only in contact wrestling

04/03/2011

The golden relay at the home World Cup and the humiliated Swedes with 100+ thousand fans at the stadium

The greatest pleasure of Northug: a thermonuclear jerk in the last ascent, a finger at the lips at the last hundred meters, a stop before the finish line and a mocking step sideways over the line.

02/03/2007

The first gold finish of the ski relay in Sapporo

The only thing more valuable than relay gold is the commentator's reaction