Haug, Thorleif

▪ Norwegian skier

born Sept. 28, 1894, Lier, Nor.

died Dec. 12, 1934, Drammen

      Norwegian Nordic skier who won three gold medals and a bronze at the inaugural Winter Olympics at Chamonix, France, in 1924. His bronze medal was revoked 50 years later.

      Haug dominated the Nordic events at the 1924 Games, winning the gold in the 18-km cross-country race and the 50-km race. A strong skier, Haug beat his competition by a wide margin in both races and was hailed as the “King of Skis.” He also received the bronze in the ski-jumping event. The 18-km results were added to the results of the ski-jumping competition, and the winner, Haug, was awarded the Nordic combined gold medal.

      In 1974, 50 years later, Thoralf Strömstad, a Norwegian teammate whom Haug had beaten in the 50-km race, proved to the International Olympic Committee that a mistake had been made in the scoring of the ski jump. It was decided that Haug had really come in fourth. The bronze medal was awarded belatedly to American Anders Haugen at the age of 83.

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