Norway is dominating the Winter Olympics. What's its gold medal secret?

[Jilly_in_VA]

When Tore Ovrebo, head of Norway's vaunted national athlete development program known as Olympia toppen, arrived in Beijing, he predicted exactly how many medals his country would win.

"The medal aim is 32 — three, two," Ovrebo said at a press conference, making the number crystal clear for anyone not listening closely.

That is an astonishingly high bar, sort of like a Major League Baseball manager promising his pitcher will throw a no-hitter.

Ovrebo proceeded to map out his game plan, predicting Norway would medal repeatedly in three core disciplines: alpine skiing, biathlon and cross-country skiing.

With the Winter Olympics entering the final days of competition, his country's athletes are actually well ahead of schedule. The U.S. with its vastly larger population lags by half a dozen medals.

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/16/1081039454/why-does-norway-dominate-the-winter-olympics-medal-count

[onecaliberal]

1. They live in a very cold place. They ski, instead of traditional sports.

[Beakybird]

2. So do the Canadians, Swedes, Finns, Russians, etc.

Plus, think of all the Americans in northern New England, Rockies, Cascades.
I'm thinking healthy diet, incredible medical care, vacation time, and great youth programs.

[onecaliberal]

4. The Russians dope.

[DoBotherMe]

11. Yes they do.

[Jilly_in_VA]

5. I think that's a lot of it

But they also don't try to do everything. They pick a few sports and excel in those. They get government support (most of our athletes don't, unless they're in military Olympic development programs, which are few). Our athletes have to depend on family and corporate support, and we have a lot of athletes in a lot of different private programs.

[LisaM]

12. I agree with that.

We tend to get all swept up in stuff like snowboarding and the newer ski events,.rather than sticking to the more workmanlike things. And I really enjoy watching cross country skiing. I have noticed that I really get more engaged with the snow sports that involve racing, so I can tell a winner, rather than all those tricks, which are impressive but 1) kind of bore me and 2) are hard for me to tell apart.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Don't know but I'd bet its athletes are not doubling as celebrities

[DinahMoeHum]

8. Uh, its elite winter athletes BECOME celebrities. . .

. . .in Nordic countries, cross country skiing and biathlon are mainstays on television. With that popularity comes fame for Norwegian athletes, along with more sponsorships, more money.

Norway also funds its Olympic athlete development programs with a national lottery.

[Cicada]

6. Norway's secret is eternal snow and ice

My dad was transferred from the real world to Fairbanks when I was14. Humans absolutely should not live there. But my high school class mates were crazy good at ice and snow sports. A big majority were in the curling club. The number one dream college was Colorado State, because of superior ski runs. I was pissed warm Stanford wait listed me so I had to go to cold New Haven instead.

[mitch96]

7. "What's its gold medal secret?" I think it's the Lutefisk..😉..nt

[DinahMoeHum]

9. Go further into this story. Bill Demong has great insights. . .

. . .as well as great suggestions on how more US athletes can reach the podium in these sports. It includes a tax on sports betting to help fund the programs


He and the US Nordic Combined team won 3 silver medals plus his gold medal in 2010 Games in Vancouver. 3 events, 4 medals for Team USA. It hasn't been repeated since.

But he notes that his success wasn't followed by a pipeline of other American athletes reaching the podium.

"Was there a group [of U.S. athletes] behind me?" Demong said. "Absolutely there was. Did they all quit essentially or retire young? Absolutely."

[Jilly_in_VA]

10. That's a great idea!

The way sports betting advertises is disgusting. Make them pay into Olympic development programs.