Bjørn Dæhlie

Who is Bjørn Dæhlie?

Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie is a Norwegian businessman and retired cross-country skier. With eight Olympic gold medals, Dæhlie is the most successful winter Olympic champion of all time. In addition, with nine gold medals in the Nordic World Ski Championships he is together with Petter Northug the most successful World Champion male skier. In the years from 1992 to 1999, Dæhlie won the Nordic World Cup 6 times, finishing second in 1994 and 1998. Dæhlie won a total of 29 medals in the Olympics and World Championships in the period between 1991 and 1999, making Dæhlie the most successful cross-country skier in history.

During his career, Dæhlie measured a VO2 max of 96 ml/kg/min. Dæhlie's result was achieved out of season, and physiologist Erlend Hem who was responsible for the testing stated that he would not discount the possibility of the skier passing 100 ml/kg/min at his absolute peak.

In addition to being an athletic figurehead, Dæhlie is a cultural icon in Norway. Since retiring, Dæhlie has become a successful businessman in real estate and fashion. His real estate investments have produced a fortune of more than a quarter of a billion kroner. Dæhlie has been featured in advertising campaigns, he started a brand of signature ski apparel, and he co-hosted a television show called Gutta på tur. Dæhlie also invented the Salomon Nordic System Pilot Bindings.