Kjus, Lasse

Kjus, Lasse
▪ 2000

      When Norwegian Alpine skier Lasse Kjus clutched the World Cup crystal globe on March 15, 1999, in Sierra Nevada, Spain, he had done more than simply claim the overall title for the second time in his career. He had completed a long journey toward overcoming health problems and triumphing over better-known skiers to earn his place among the world's elite in the sport, leaving world records—and even his old roommate—in his wake.

      Kjus was born Jan. 14, 1971, in Oslo and took up skiing at the age of seven. His first coach was Finn Aamodt, the father of his friend Kjetil Andre Aamodt. In 1990 either Kjus or the younger Aamodt, by then roommates, won every title at the world junior championships. After Kjus joined Norway's national team, his early successes came in the combined event; he was the world champion in 1993 and the Olympic champion in 1994 at Lillehammer, Nor. Aamodt, however, won the overall 1994 World Cup title.

      Two seasons later Kjus started out in tremendous fashion, earning two second-place finishes with wins in the giant slalom, the supergiant slalom (super G), and the downhill. A terrible crash in Kitzbühel, Austria, sidelined him for three weeks, but a return to the site of his Olympic triumph, Lillehammer, saw him win the season's final downhill race to win the 1996 overall World Cup title. Frequent sickness, however, led Kjus to seek medical attention in 1997, and doctors determined that he had been born with a nasal condition that required surgery. Although he did not expect immediate relief, Kjus wasted no time in getting back on track. He made history at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, by capturing a silver medal in the downhill and later the same day winning another silver in the combined. He had not defended his 1994 combined title, but Kjus had become the first Alpine skier in history to medal twice in one day.

      Plagued again by sickness, Kjus had a rough start to the 1998–99 season and missed out on crucial point-producing races. He took time off before Christmas and also missed six races late in the season. A defining moment came in February, however, at the world championships in Vail, Colo. He tied Austrian star Hermann Maier for the gold in the opening event—the super G—then triumphed over Maier in the giant slalom. When the championships ended, Kjus had won a record five medals.

      On the last day of the season, in Sierra Nevada, Kjus went head to head with Aamodt (they had stopped rooming together the year before). Although neither skied particularly well, Kjus picked up enough points to win by only 23—one of the closest finishes in history—for his second overall World Cup title.

Anthony G. Craine

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Kjus — Lasse Kjus Lasse Kjus (* 14. Januar 1971 in Siggerud, Akershus, Norwegen) ist ein ehemaliger norwegischer Skirennläufer. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Karriere 2 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Kjus — Lasse Kjus Lasse Kjus Lasse Kjus Contexte général Sport pratiqué Ski alpin Biographie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lasse Kjus — Nation Norwegen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lasse Kjus — Lasse Kjus …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lasse Kjus — (born January 14, 1971) is a retired Norwegian Alpine skier who has won the overall World Cup twice, an Olympic gold medal, and several World Championships. His combined career total of 16 Olympic and World Championship medals ranks 2nd all time… …   Wikipedia

  • Lasse — ist ein skandinavischer männlicher Vorname. Er ist wie Lars eine skandinavische bzw. finnische Kurzform des lateinischen Vornamens Laurentius[1]; zur ursprünglichen Bedeutung des Namens siehe dort. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Bekannte Namensträger 1.1… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Kjus —   [ çuːs], Lasse, norweg. alpiner Skiläufer, * Ski (bei Oslo) 14. 1. 1971; u. a. Olympiasieger 1994 (Kombination), Weltmeister 1993 (Kombination) und 1999 (Super G, Riesenslalom); Gesamtweltcupsieger 1995/96 und 1998/99 …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Lasse Kjus — Medallero Competidor por  Noruega Esquí Alpino Masculino Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno O …   Wikipedia Español

  • Alpiner Skiweltcup 1999 — Die Saison 1998/1999 des Alpinen Skiweltcups begann am 24. Oktober 1998 in Sölden und endete am 14. März 1999 anlässlich des Weltcup Finales in der Sierra Nevada. Bei den Männern wurden 33 Rennen ausgetragen (10 Abfahrten, 5 Super G, 8… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Alpiner Skiweltcup 1999/Resultate Damen — Die Saison 1998/1999 des Alpinen Skiweltcups begann am 24. Oktober 1998 in Sölden und endete am 14. März 1999 anlässlich des Weltcup Finales in der Sierra Nevada. Bei den Männern wurden 33 Rennen ausgetragen (10 Abfahrten, 5 Super G, 8… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”