Petter Northug

Petter Northug
Full name	Petter Northug, Jr.
Born	6 January 1986 Framverran, Mosvik, Norway
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Ski club	Strindheim IL
World Cup career
Seasons	2005–
Individual wins	36
Indiv. podiums	83
Overall titles	2 (2009–10, 2012–13)
Medal record Men's cross country skiing Representing  Norway Olympic Games 2010 Vancouver 50 km classical 2010 Vancouver Team sprint 2010 Vancouver 4×10 km relay 2010 Vancouver Individual sprint World Championships 2007 Sapporo 4×10 km 2009 Liberec 15 km + 15 km skiathlon 2009 Liberec 50 km 2009 Liberec 4×10 km 2011 Oslo 15 km + 15 km skiathlon 2011 Oslo 50 km 2011 Oslo 4×10 km 2013 Val di Fiemme 15 km freestyle 2013 Val di Fiemme 4×10 km 2015 Falun Individual sprint 2015 Falun 50 km classical 2015 Falun Team sprint 2015 Falun 4×10 km 2011 Oslo Individual sprint 2011 Oslo Team sprint 2013 Val di Fiemme Individual sprint

Petter Northug Jr. (born 6 January 1986) is a Norwegian cross country skier and double Olympic champion. He has 13 World Championship and 2 Winter Olympic gold medals with 20 medals overall (2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze at the Olympics, 13 gold and 3 silver at the World Ski Championships), and 18 individual FIS Cross-Country World Cup wins with 13 podium places. He is also the record holder for most stage wins (13) in Tour de Ski. By winning his ninth gold medal in the Nordic World Ski Championships in 4 x 10 km relay in Val di Fiemme 2013 he leveled the achievement of Bjørn Dæhlie who had been the most successful World Champion male skier up to this point.

Early life and career

During his first years, Northug was generally considered a star of the future. Whilst he was still a junior Verdens Gang newspaper reported in November 2005 that "the ski manufacturers are fighting to get Northug".^[1] Fischer won his signature, and his contract included a base salary (the first time ever for a junior), which would be multiplied by five if he made the Norwegian elite team for 2006/07, which he did. The contract also offered bonuses if he won medals in the junior World Championships.

Northug has six gold medals from junior World Championships. His first two gold medals came in 2004/05 in the pursuit and the 10 km freestyle in Rovaniemi, then in 2005/06 in Kranj he won gold in the 10 km classic, the pursuit, the sprint, and the relay. He also has two silver medals (one in the sprint, and one in the relay, both in 2004/05). His victories made him the first athlete ever to win five individual gold medals at the FIS Junior Nordic World Ski Championships. During 2005/06 he also took part in the Norwegian National Championships, and won the double pursuit race, beating Frode Estil by 1.9 seconds, and became the first junior to ever win a Norwegian National Championship.

Before he joined the World Cup he competed in a few Continental Cup meetings, but mostly in the Scandinavian Cup. During his Scandinavian Cup career (2004/05 & 2005/06) he had seven podium finishes, he came second once in 2004/05, and in 2005/06 he scored four victories, and two second places.

Athletic career

The 2005/06 season was Northug's first in the World Cup, although he competed in one race the season before, a sprint in Drammen, he came 35th. During the 2005/06 season he shared his time equally between the World Cup and the Scandinavian Cup, although in early May 2006 it was announced that Northug would be in the senior national team for the 2006/07 season.^[2] Northug also claimed his first World Cup victory in the 2005/06 season, in a pursuit race in Falun, beating 2005/06 World Cup winner Tobias Angerer, who came second, and 2004/05 overall champion Axel Teichmann was third.^[3] Then in the last race of the year, a pursuit in Sapporo he claimed another podium place, coming second.^[4] He lost to Mathias Fredriksson by 3.8 seconds. He also came seventh, tenth, and twelfth in sprint races, and fifteenth in the 50 km freestyle in Holmenkollen. Northug finished the 2005/06 World Cup season in 14th place overall. He also finished 14th in the distance standings, and 24th in the sprint.^[5]

After Norway's disappointing display at the 2006 Winter Olympics, the Norwegian press questioned why Northug was not taken to the Games. Northug himself admitted he was disappointed after not getting selected, especially as he had won the double pursuit in the National Championships earlier in the year.^[6] The day after the 2006 Olympics Team was announced, Northug was on the team winning the Norwegian Championships in 4x10 kilometer relay. As he crossed the finish line, he shouted "And I am not going to the Olympics?".^[7]

Northug won his first gold medal at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Sapporo as a member of the 4 x 10 km relay in 2007. Northug completed the last leg of the relay, beating Sweden and Russia on the sprint for the finish line. He was also in a good position to compete for silverware in the 30 kilometer duathlon, but he fell in the last part of the race and was disappointed to finish fifth.

He was far more successful at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec, where he earned three golds in the 15 km + 15 km double pursuit, 4 x 10 km relay and 50 km freestyle mass start. In all three events he sprinted away from the rest of the pack to win the race.^[8]

Northug was the runner up to the overall World Cup in the 2008/2009 season, losing to the Swiss Dario Cologna after leading before the final races.

Northug finished in an extremely disappointing 41st place in the first Cross Country event during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. A day later, Northug responded with a bronze medal in the Sprint Event. This success was short-lived however, as he broke his pole in the end of the 30 km pursuit, where he was one of the biggest favourites to win.^[9] He then won his first Olympic gold, in the Team Sprint, alongside Øystein Pettersen.

Days later he was skiing the anchor leg in the 4 x 10 km relay. When he took over from Lars Berger who was skiing the 3rd leg, he was 37.5 seconds behind the lead group. Despite this he managed to catch and overtake France and the Czech Republic to win Norway a silver medal. Northug then won his first individual medal at the olympics when he won gold at the Men's 50 kilometre classic. Less than two weeks later, he won the 50 kilometre freestyle event at the Holmenkollen, becoming the first skier to win the 50 km at the Winter Olympics, World Championships, and Holmenkollen since Sweden's Gunde Svan reached that triple crown in 1988.

In September 2010 details of Northug's sponsorship contract with soft drink manufacturer Red Bull were publicized by Norwegian broadcaster TV 2, which did not divulge its sources, revealing the most profitable sponsorship agreement with an individual athlete in Norwegian history. For four years, until after the 2014 Winter Olympics, Northug will be receiving a minimum of NOK 1 million annually with a prospect of getting twice the amount if his performances equal those in his most recent seasons.^[10]

Northug did not start the 2010–2011 season well, missing the first three weeks of the world cup due illness. His Tour de Ski campaign was also marred by poor results (to his standard) in the opening stages. He however climbed the rankings and finished 2nd after winning the prestigious penultimate stage (20 km classical mass start) in Val di Fiemme (taking all intermediate bonus sprints as well which has never been done by the winner of the race). In the Holmenkollen World Ski Championship Northug raced in five disciplines, taking 3 gold and 2 silver medals. During the 2011 World Championship, he gained widespread international attention when he controversially crossed the finish-line sideways after convincingly beating his opponents on the last leg of the 4x10 kilometre relay. The gesture was regarded by media as disrespectful, most notably towards his most fierce rival, Marcus Hellner. At the end of the season Northug also won the Season Finale in Sweden, beating his compatriot Finn Haagen Krogh.

In the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2013, Northug won the 15 km freestyle for the first time at a World Championships, completing his collection of World Championship gold medals. He again beat the Swedes on the sprint of the 4x10 km relay, securing Norway's 7th World Championship gold medal in a row in the relay. Northug also won a silver in the individual sprint. He was less successful on the team sprint, where he and his teammate, Pål Golberg, went out in the semifinal. Despite being a favorite before the 50 km, Northug finished 21st. He gave the winner, Johan Olsson, his jersey after the race as a gesture of respect.

Northug had an impressive ending to the 2012–13 season. He won 15 km classical individual in Lahti by over half a minute before being victorious in the famous classical sprint in Drammen. In the Season Finale in Sweden, Northug won first two stages, the prestigious classical sprint in Stockholm and free style prologue in Falun, then finished fourth in the penultimate stage, 15k classical mass start, and closed the season by winning the whole mini-tour. Before Lahti, Northug was in the third place in the world cup, 226 points behind the lead; but he finished 180 points ahead of the second place.

The 2013-14 season saw Northug struggle with an illness which severally impacted his performance. Particularly frustrating for him was his inability to fight for medals in the skiathlon and individual sprint of the Sochi Olympics. His lackluster performance by his standards in the 50km event, which saw him finish a distant 18th in a race he had convincingly won four years earlier, meant he left a major world event without a single medal for the first time in eight years.

At the 2015 World Championships in Falun, Petter secured his 10th WC gold medal by narrowly beating Canada's Alex Harvey in a bunch sprint to the finish line in the men's classic sprint event. He then proceeded to contribute to Norway's victory in both the team sprint and 4x10km relay. The final race of these World Championships, i.e. the 50km classical, saw Northug score one of his greatest victories. A victory which left him speechless at the after race press conference, a premiere for the usually voluble Petter. The race was held in difficult conditions due to heavy snowfalls which prevented any breakaway and saw the main favorites fight a tactical battle from start to finish. In the last climb before the finish Northug managed to slot into 3rd to fight for victory in the last dash to the finish line. His now legendary double polling was in full display as he managed to overtake his remaining two opponents to capture one of the most coveted prizes in cross country skiing.

As of 2015, Northug is unmatched as to number of medals among active cross country skiers. His tally of 20 Olympic and World Championship medals (15 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze) stands high above his peers.

Season standings

Season	Age	Overall	Tour de Ski
2006	20	14	—
2007	21	7	4
2008	22	12	8
2009	23	2	2
2010	24	1	2
2011	25	2	2
2012	26	3	3
2013	27	1	4
2014	28	7	3
2015	29	3	2
2016	30	2	4

Personal life

He has two brothers, Even and Tomas.^[11] Tomas Northug also skis professionally and won the Junior World Championships in sprint in 2010.^[12] Northug finished school in 2006, but during the summer of 2005 he changed schools from Steinkjer to Meråker and moved into a cabin next to the ski trails to optimize his training conditions.^[13]

Petter Northug is an active poker player, and has openly supported the legalization of poker in Norway, which is currently illegal when prizes are involved under Norwegian gambling laws. He participated and cashed (on 653rd place) in the 2010 World Series of Poker main event which he played with skiing rival Marcus Hellner.^[14]

Petter Northug has his own music video called "Rise Again" produced by Jack Taylor and featuring Mo of Norway

2014 DUI

In the early hours of 4 May 2014, Northug crashed his car near his home in Byåsen, Trondheim, while driving under the influence of alcohol.^[15] It was at the time suspected that the car was driving way over the speed limit, which was 40 km/h at the site of the crash. A 23-year-old male passenger broke his collar bone in the crash. After the crash, Northug fled the scene, but was located at his nearby residence by the police using search dogs. In a press release made later the day of the crash, Northug apologised for the incident.^[16][16]

On 15 September 2014, Northug was charged by the Norwegian public prosecutor on five counts of violation of the Norwegian Road Traffic Act and one count of violation of the general civil penal code. The latter charge stemmed from Northug having attempted in three separate police interrogations on the day of the crash to blame his passenger for the incident, claiming that the passenger had been driver of the vehicle. Due to Northug's initial claims, the passenger had been preliminary charged with causing the incident.^[17]

Because Northug pleaded guilty to all the charges levelled against him, he received a summary trial, which took place on 9 October 2014 at the Sør-Trøndelag District Court in Trondheim. Northug was sentenced to 50 days of prison, ten days less than requested by the prosecutor. He has already served two days of the sentence in police custody after his initial arrest. In addition to the prison time, Northug was fined NOK 185,000 and permanently lost his driver's licence. Northug accepted the verdict and waived his right to appeal.^[18][19]

Career highlights

Olympic Games Medals

2010 Vancouver 1st, 50 km classical mass start

2010 Vancouver 1st, freestyle team sprint (with Øystein Pettersen)

2010 Vancouver 2nd, 4 x 10 km relay (with Johnsrud Sundby / Hjelmeset / Berger)

2010 Vancouver 3rd, classical sprint

FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Medals

2015 – Falun 1st, 50 km classical mass start

2015 – Falun 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Dyrhaug / Tønseth / Gløersen)

2015 – Falun 1st, freestyle team sprint (with Finn Hågen Krogh)

2015 – Falun 1st, classical sprint

2013 – Val di Fiemme 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Gjerdalen / Rønning / Røthe)

2013 – Val di Fiemme 1st, 15 km freestyle

2013 – Val di Fiemme 2nd, classical sprint

2011 – Oslo 1st, 50 km freestyle mass start

2011 – Oslo 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Johnsrud Sundby / Rønning / Gjerdalen)

2011 – Oslo 1st, 2 x 15 km skiathlon

2011 – Oslo 2nd, classical team sprint (with Ola Vigen Hattestad)

2011 – Oslo 2nd, freestyle sprint

2009 – Liberec 1st, 50 km freestyle mass start

2009 – Liberec 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Ruud Hofstad / Hjelmeset / Rønning)

2009 – Liberec 1st, 2 x 15 km skiathlon

2007 – Sapporo 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Rønning / Hjelmeset / Berger)

FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships Medals

2005 – Rovaniemi 1st, 2 x 10 km skiathlon

2005 – Rovaniemi 1st, 10 km freestyle

2005 – Rovaniemi 2nd, 4 x 5 km relay (with Markset / Hafsås / Svendsen)

2005 – Rovaniemi 2nd, classical sprint

2006 – Kranj 1st, 4 x 5 km relay (with Elvestad / Olsen / Sæves)

2006 – Kranj 1st, 2 x 10 km skiathlon

2006 – Kranj 1st, 10 km classical

2006 – Kranj 1st, 1 km freestyle sprint

Overall World Cup

2005/2006 – 14th

2006/2007 – 7th

2007/2008 – 12th

2008/2009 – 2nd

2009/2010 – 1st

2010/2011 – 2nd

2011/2012 – 3rd

2012/2013 – 1st

2013/2014 – 6th

2014/2015 - 3rd

Season Opening

2011/2012 1st

2012/2013 1st

2015/2016 2nd

Tour de Ski

2008/2009 – 2nd

2009/2010 – 2nd

2010/2011 – 2nd

2011/2012 – 3rd

2013/2014 – 3rd

2014/2015 – 2nd

Season Finale

2009/2010 1st

2010/2011 1st

2012/2013 1st

World Cup podiums

2005/2006 – Falun 1st, 2 x 10 km skiathlon

2005/2006 – Sapporo 2nd, 2 x 15 km skiathlon

2006/2007 – La Clusaz 2nd, 4 x 10 km relay (with Hetland / Rønning / Bjørndalen)

2006/2007 – Lahti 1st, freestyle sprint

2006/2007 – Falun 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Pettersen / Hjelmeset / Estil)

2007/2008 – Falun 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Sundby / Jespersen / Eilifsen)

2008/2009 – Gällivare 3rd, 15 km freestyle

2008/2009 – Gällivare 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Sundby / Rønning / Ruud Hofstad)

2008/2009 – La Clusaz 1st, 30 km freestyle mass start

2008/2009 – La Clusaz 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Hetland / Sundby / Gjerdalen)

2008/2009 – Lahti 1st, freestyle sprint

2008/2009 – Trondheim 2nd, classical sprint

2009/2010 – Beitostølen 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Rønning / Sundby / Hafsås)

2009/2010 – Kuusamo 1st, 15 km classical

2009/2010 – Rogla 1st, classical sprint

2009/2010 – Rogla 1st, 30 km classical mass start

2009/2010 – Drammen 2nd, classical sprint

2009/2010 – Holmenkollen 1st, 50 km freestyle mass start

2010/2011 – La Clusaz 2nd, 30 km freestyle mass start

2010/2011 – La Clusaz 3rd, 4 x 10 km relay (with Rønning / Sundby / Gjerdalen)

2010/2011 – Drammen 3rd, 15 km classical

2010/2011 – Drammen 3rd, freestyle sprint

2011/2012 – Sjusjøen 2nd, 15 km freestyle

2011/2012 – Sjusjoen 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Rønning / Krogh / Berger)

2011/2012 – Davos 1st, 30 km freestyle

2011/2012 – Rogla 1st, 15 km classical mass start

2011/2012 – Nové Město 1st, 4 x 10 km relay (with Rønning / Dyrhaug / Sundby)

2012/2013 – Gällivare 1st, 4 x 7.5 km relay (with Rønning / Sundby / Sjur Roethe)

2012/2013 – Sochi 1st, freestyle sprint

2012/2013 – Lahti 1st, 15 km classical

2012/2013 – Drammen 1st, classical sprint

2013/2014 – Lillehammer 3rd, 4 x 7.5 km relay (with Goldberg / Toenseth / Sundby)

2014/2015 - Kuusamo 2nd, classical sprint

2014/2015 - Davos 2nd, 15 km, freestyle

2015/2016 - Lillehammer 1st, 4 x 7.5 km relay (with Dyrhaug / Hollund / Sundby)

2015/2016 - Drammen 1st, classical sprint

2015/2016 - Stockholm 3rd, classical sprint

2015/2016 - Lahti 3rd, freestyle sprint

Stage World Cup podiums

2006/2007 – Asiago 3rd, freestyle sprint (Tour de Ski)

2007/2008 – Asiago 1st, freestyle sprint (Tour de Ski)

2008/2009 – Oberhof 3rd, 3.7 km freestyle (Tour de Ski)

2008/2009 – Nové Město 1st, freesyle sprint (Tour de Ski)

2009/2010 – Oberhof 1st, 3.7 km freestyle (Tour de Ski)

2009/2010 – Oberhof 1st, 15 km classical pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2009/2010 – Oberhof 2nd, classical sprint (Tour de Ski)

2009/2010 – Cortina-Toblach 1st, 30 km freestyle pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2009/2010 – Toblach 3rd, 10 km classical (Tour de Ski)

2009/2010 – Val di Fiemme 2nd, 20 km classical mass start (Tour de Ski)

2009/2010 – Stockholm 2nd, classical sprint (Season Finale)

2009/2010 – Falun 1st, 2 x 10 km skiathlon (Season Finale)

2010/2011 – Oberhof 3rd, 3.7 km freestyle (Tour de Ski)

2010/2011 – Toblach 3rd, freestyle sprint (Tour de Ski)

2010/2011 – Cortina-Toblach 3rd, 30 km freestyle pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2010/2011 – Val di Fiemme 1st, 20 km classical mass start (Tour de Ski)

2010/2011 – Stockholm 2nd, classical sprint (Season Finale)

2010/2011 – Falun 2nd, 3.3 km classical (Season Finale)

2010/2011 – Falun 1st, 2 x 10 km skiathlon (Season Finale)

2011/2012 – Kuusamo 1st, 10 km freestyle (Season Opening)

2011/2012 – Oberhof 1st, 3.7 km freestyle (Tour de Ski)

2011/2012 – Oberhof 2nd, 15 km classical pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2011/2012 – Oberstdorf 1st, 2 x 10 km skiathlon (Tour de Ski)

2011/2012 – Toblach 2nd, freestyle sprint (Tour de Ski)

2011/2012 – Cortina-Toblach 2nd, 30 km freestyle pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2012/2013 – Kuusamo 2nd, classical sprint (Season Opening)

2012/2013 – Kuusamo 2nd, 10 km freestyle (Season Opening)

2012/2013 – Oberhof 1st, 4 km freestyle (Tour de Ski)

2012/2013 – Oberhof 3rd, 15 km classical pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2012/2013 – Cortina-Toblach 1st, 30 km freestyle pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2012/2013 – Toblach 2nd, 5 km classical (Tour de Ski)

2012/2013 – Stockholm 1st, classical sprint (Season Finale)

2012/2013 – Falun 1st, 3.75 km freestyle (Season Finale)

2013/2014 – Cortina-Toblach 2nd, 30 km freestyle pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2013/2014 – Val di Fiemme 1st, 10 km classical (Tour de Ski)

2014/2015 - Oberstdorf 1st, 15 km classical pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2014/2015 - Val Müstair 2nd, freestyle sprint (Tour de Ski)

2014/2015 - Toblach 1st, 30 km freestyle pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2015/2016 - Kuusamo 3rd, classical sprint (Season Opening)

2015/2016 - Lenzerheide 2nd, 30 km classical mass start (Tour de Ski)

2015/2016 - Lenzerheide 2nd, 10 km freestyle pursuit (Tour de Ski)

2015/2016 - Montreal 2nd, 10.5 km classical mass start (Ski Tour Canada)

2015/2016 - Quebec City 2nd, 15 km frrestyle pursuit (Ski Tour Canada)

Summary

Individual World Cup

1st x 14

2nd x 7

3rd x 3

Tour World Cup

1st x 5

2nd x 5

3rd x 3

Stage World Cup

1st x 18

2nd x 15

3rd x 8

Team World Cup

1st x 9

2nd x 1

3rd x 2

References

1. "Skifabrikkene sloss om Northug" [Ski manufacturers fighting to acquire Northug]. Vg.no. 2005-01-01. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
2. "— Norwegian National team Selection For 2006-2007". Fasterskier.com. 2006-05-10. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
3. "resultats". FIS-Ski. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
4. "resultats". FIS-Ski. 2006-03-19. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
5. "standings". FIS-Ski. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
6. Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
7. "Gullkorn fra barneskirenn - Langrenn". Dagbladet.no. 2008-11-24. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
8. "Northug wins 50-kilometer freestyle". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
9. T (2011-10-12). "Northug knust etter stavbrekk - Aftenposten". Aftenposten.no. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
10. "Så mye tjener Northug på sin Red Bull-avtale" (in Norwegian). TV 2. September 24, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
11. "Petter Northug Jr". Teamnorthug.no. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
12. "Northug juniorverdensmester - NRK – Trøndelag". Nrk.no. 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
13. Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
14. "— Northug, Hellner Survive First Day of Poker World Series". Fasterskier.com. 2010-07-05. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
15. Northug: – Jeg var sjåfør av ulykkesbilen (Norwegian) NRK. Retrieved 4 May 2014
16. "Northug innrømmer at han kjørte ulykkesbilen og at han hadde promille". TV2.no. 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
17. Murtnes, Sindre (16 September 2014). "Se hele tiltalen mot Northug". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 18 September 2014.
18. Nilsen, Amund Aune (1 October 2014). "Ikke redd for kaos under Northug-rettssaken". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 3 October 2014.
19. Sandberg, Fredrik Økstad (9 October 2014). "Dommen er klar: Northug fikk 50 dagers fengsel". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 October 2014.

External links

• Petter Northug, jr. at the International Ski Federation
• Official website (Norwegian)