Will Svindal prevail in his last downhill?

9.2.2019 10:44:21 CET | Åre 2019 english

The Norwegian alpine superstar Aksel Lund Svindal will retire at the Åre 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. The downhill medal event here will be his final race and he is keen to retire with one more gold medal around his neck.

Aksel Lund Svindal at the Men's Super G in Åre. Photo by Nisse Schmidt.

It was 12 years ago here in Åre that Svindal won his first gold medal, and not just one but two, as he won both the downhill and giant slalom at Åre 2007, at the tender age of 24. Besides those two world champion titles, he has many good memories from many World Cups in Åre. Svindal loves to race in Åre, not least because of the many Norwegian fans that come to cheer for him here.

Over the years in the World Cup, Svindal has sustained a number of injuries, in particular in the last five years. Regardless, he won downhill gold just last season at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Add to that the Olympic gold he won in the super-G at Vancouver 2010 and further three world champion titles he’s won after 2007.

One of the greatest ski champions

Aksel’s list of achievements is long. He has 36 World Cup wins and a total of 80 podium appearances. Not to mention 12 medals at major events, 7 of them gold.

Super-G and downhill have undoubtedly been Svindal’s best events yet he’s won in all events expect slalom both in the World Cup and at the World Championships. He’s also a two-time overall World Cup champion (2007 and 2009), and has won the World Cup season title in the super-G no less than five times, the downhill title twice, and the giant slalom and combined globes each once. It is clearly a storied career that reaches its end when one of the sport’s all-time best retires here in Åre this weekend.

A long career on the world’s toughest slopes has also left its marks. In Svindal’s case this means bad knees and multiple operations. Åre 2019 will be his final attempt to give it his all at the highlight event of these World Ski Championships: the men’s downhill. Watch this space, Aksel remains a force to be reckoned with!

Career highlights: Aksel Lund Svindal

World Cup podiums: 80
World Cup wins: 36
World Championships medals: Eight, five gold
Olympic medals: Four, two gold

Overall World Cup titles: 2
Downhill World Cup titles: 2
Super-G World Cup titles: 5
Giant slalom World Cup titles: 1
Combined World Cup titles: 1

The men's Downhill starts at 12.30 CET.

Keywords

Aksel Lund Svindal alpine alpine skiing alpine world championships Are2019 Attacking Vikings Svindal world championships åre 2019

Images

Aksel Lund Svindal and Lindsey Vonn having fun at the Opening Ceremony. Photo by Jan M Lundahl

About Åre 2019 english

Åre 2019 english
Årevägen 180
83152 Åre

http://www.are2019.com

ABOUT ÅRE 2019

Scheduled from 4-17 February 2019, Åre 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships will mark the third time that the second largest winter sport event after the Olympic Winter Games is held in Åre, Sweden. After the 1954 and 2007 editions, Åre 2019 will welcome the world’s top skiers and some 120’000 visitors to an epic celebration of skiing, snow and winter. The 11 medal competitions staged in the unique atmosphere of the leading Scandinavian ski resort will excite millions of global viewers and inspire great numbers to join the sport in active practice.

Subscribe to releases from Åre 2019 english

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Åre 2019 english by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Åre 2019 english

Where life can be lived - reflections of a volonteer19.2.2019 09:34:46 CET | Press release

Yet another Alpine World Championship in Åre has come to an end. The third through the years. Skiers, visitors and volunteers have lived and breathed the World Championships for weeks. The organization has done the same for years. Beyond all the races that have been raced, the medals that have been awarded, something else has taken place. Perhaps the thoughts have been thought before, maybe they have been awaken when being here. Thoughts of the real meaning of life, or rather, thoughts of what kind of life we want to live. Thoughts of where our children should grow up, of where our everyday lives should take place. Where life should be lived.

Hirscher's amazing race secured an Austrian triple17.2.2019 20:09:41 CET | Nyheter

Marcel Hirscher was not about to have anyone take the slalom gold from him. Alexis Pinturault, the only athlete with a chance to push the Austrian giant off the top of the podium, made a mistake in the second run. Austria swept the men's slalom podium as the Åre 2019 finale.

Åre 2019 Inspired the World to Ski17.2.2019 18:50:10 CET | Press release

The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Åre 2019 concluded Sunday, 17 February, with the men’s slalom competition and the closing ceremony. To officially mark the end of the season’s highlight event in Åre, Sweden, the local organizing committee handed over the flag of the International Ski Federation (FIS) to the organizers of the 2021 World Ski Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Visit the service guys working round the clock in the wax cabins17.2.2019 14:10:56 CET | Nyheter

In alpine skiing the relation between athletes and their service technicians is vital for success. The material and equipment are tested over and over and a millimeter adjustment can be the difference between a gold medal and ending up outside the podium.

Åre 2019 wrap athletes and guests in organic cotton blankets17.2.2019 13:40:47 CET | Nyheter

Christina and John Lindell started Little Lizzy Organic less than a year ago and are blanketing the 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships with their soft, cuddly products. Their Stockholm-based company has supplied 1,300 specially-made 100 percent organic, non-toxic, fair-trade blankets to the athletes, sponsors and other guests at the world championships.

SVT and Infront set a new standard for sustainable event TV production at Åre 201917.2.2019 10:39:49 CET | Nyheter

Images from Åre 2019 may reach in excess of 815 million households worldwide. A total of 90 cameras are used to convey the action on and off the slopes to ski fans around the globe through race broadcasting, award ceremonies and studio programs.

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom