Stein Eriksen

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Medal record
Men’s alpine skiing
Olympic Games
Gold	1952 Oslo	Giant Slalom
Silver	1952 Oslo	Slalom
World Championships
Gold	1954 Åre	Slalom
Gold	1954 Åre	Giant Slalom
Gold	1954 Åre	Combined
Bronze	1950 Aspen	Slalom

Stein Eriksen (born December 11, 1927), is a former Norwegian-American professional alpine skier and Olympic gold medalist.

[edit] Sports career

Eriksen won the gold medal in the Giant Slalom event at the 1952 Winter Olympics, which were held in Oslo, Norway. He also won a silver medal in the Slalom race. Eriksen was the first skier from outside the Alps to win an Olympic men's alpine gold medal. Some of his other accomplishments include the fact that he is credited with devising "aerials", a freestyle skiing event, and he helped revolutionize the world of alpine skiing, especially in America, where he has served as a ski instructor at many different ski schools. For his Olympic medals, Eriksen earned the Holmenkollen medal in 1952.

It is said that Eriksen was skiing's "first superstar", since he was handsome, stylish, and charismatic. Despite his fame, he maintained a very down-to-Earth personality. For example, he is quoted as saying, "Be tough, be confident. But you will never be a whole and happy person if you aren't humble".

Stein's father, Marius Eriksen competed in the 1912 Olympic Games as a gymnast.

[edit] Life in the US

Shortly after his success in the Olympics, Eriksen went to America and has lived there ever since. He worked as an instructor and as a director at various ski schools across the country. He is currently director of skiing at the Deer Valley Resort in Utah, and also serves as host of the Stein Eriksen Lodge, a ski lodge in Park City, Utah (the Lodge was named in honor of Eriksen, but is not owned by him). Stein is married, has four children, and currently calls both Utah and Montana home.

In 1997, Eriksen was honored by the King of Norway by being awarded the highest honor that the Norwegian government can give to people living outside Norway.

[edit] External links

Olympic champions in men's giant slalom
1952: Stein Eriksen \| 1956: Toni Sailer \| 1960: Roger Staub \| 1964: François Bonlieu \| 1968: Jean-Claude Killy \| 1972: Gustav Thöni \| 1976: Heini Hemmi \| 1980: Ingemar Stenmark \| 1984: Max Julen \| 1988: Alberto Tomba \| 1992: Alberto Tomba \| 1994: Markus Wasmeier \| 1998: Hermann Maier \| 2002: Stephan Eberharter \| 2006: Benjamin Raich