Aksel Lund Svindal, a Norwegian alpine ski racer, is a highly accomplished athlete with numerous medals and titles to his name. With his first World Cup appearance at the age of 18, Svindal has consistently excelled in both World Cup and World Championship competitions. He has secured five gold medals at the World Championship and has emerged victorious twice at the World Cup championships. Representing Norway in the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, Svindal clinched three medals in the latter. Since 2006, he has consistently ranked in the top four for the World Cup rankings and holds the distinction of being the first male alpine skier to win titles four years in a row at the World Championships, triumphing in 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013.
Quick Facts
- Age: 40 Years
- Family: father – Bjørn Svindal, mother – Ina Lund, siblings – Simen Lund Svindal
- Skiers
- Norwegian Men
- Height: 6’2″ (188 cm)
Childhood & Early Life
Aksel Lund Svindal was born on December 26, 1982 to Ina Lund and Bjorn Svindal. He has one younger brother named Simen. He was born in Lorenskog, Norway. He lived in Fetsund, Norway, until he was 6. His family then moved to Skedsmo, Norway, which is where he grew up.
For his third birthday, he received his first set of skis. His parents were skiers and every year they would visit Geilo, Norway, where they would stay in his grandparent’s cabin.
When he was eight years old, his mother passed away due to pregnancy complications. His baby brother also passed away shortly after his mother. After his mother passed away, his grandparents spent more time at his home helping to care for him as well as his younger brother.
When he was 15 years old, he moved to Oppdal which allowed students to participate in skiing while still continuing with their education. While attending Oppdal, he became a member of the Norwegian Junior Team. He traveled across Europe as part of the team.
After he finished school, he decided to pursue his passion and love for skiing.
Career
Aksel Lund Svindal made his World Cup debut on October 28, 2001. He was only 18 years old.
At the 2002 Junior World Skiing Championship, he won 2 bronze medals (Downhill and Slalom), 1 silver medal (Super-G), and 1 gold medal (Combined).
He won a silver medal for the combined discipline at the 2005 World Championship.
He competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics. It was his first outing in the Olympics but he did not win any medals. He won the overall World Cup title in 2006.
At the 2007 World Championship, he won gold medals for the Combined and Giant Slalom disciplines.
On November 27, 2007, he crashed into a safety net during downhill training for the Birds of Prey downhill race. As a result of his injuries, he was out for the rest of the skiing season.
After recovering from the injury, he returned to the 2008/2009 skiing season. His first race was the 2008 World Cup where he won for Overall and Super-G. The World Cup was taking place on the very mountain that he had crashed on the year before.
At the 2009 World Championship, he won a gold medal for the combined discipline and a bronze for the Super-G.
He participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics as part of the Norwegian team. He won a gold medal for the Super-G discipline, a silver medal for the Downhill discipline, and a bronze medal for the Giant Slalom discipline.
At the 2011 World Championship, he won a gold medal for the combined discipline.
At the 2012 World Cup, he was placed first for Super-G.
At the 2013 World Championship, he won a gold medal in the Downhill discipline. He also competed in the 2013 World Cup and won for Downhill and Super-G.
At the 2014 World Cup, he was placed first for Downhill and Super-G.
Major Works
He competed in his first World Cup when he was only 18 in 2001.
He competed in the 2006 and 2010 Olympics. He won a gold, silver, and bronze medal in the 2010 Olympics.
Awards & Achievements
He has ranked in the top 4 for the World Cup rankings since 2006.
He is the first male alpine skier to win titles four years in a row at the World Championship.
Personal Life & Legacy
He dated Julia Mancuso (an alpine skier based in America) for four years before they decided to go their separate ways in 2013.
Trivia
His first pair of skis was also used by his brother and two of his cousins after he outgrew them.