Gjermund Eggen - Superstar of 1966 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

Gjermund Eggen, the Norwegian cross-country ski racer most remembered for his unprecedented win of three gold medals in the 1966 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (WSC) in Oslo, died May 6, 2019, after a brief illness, at age 78.

Eggen’s triple world-championships win in men’s cross-country was a record that stood for 45 years, until it was equaled in 2011 by Norwegian racer Petter Northug. Over 12 years through 2018, Northug became the most medaled cross-country ski racer ever. But though his racing career was shorter and he won far fewer races, Eggen had been first.

The cross-country program of the 1966 Nordic WSC was held on the courses at Holmenkollen. It began on February 17 with the 30 km, won by Finnish racer Eero Mäntyranta. On February 20, Eggen won the 15 km, ahead of teammates Ole Ellefsæter and Odd Martinsen. On February 23, those three racers together with Harald Grønningen won the 4 x 10 km relay.

On February 26, Eggen won the 50 km—and with it, his record-breaking third gold medal.

The Norwegian racers were men of their era. Gjermund and his twin brother Jo (also an accomplished ski racer) grew up aspiring to be like their father Per, to become woodsmen and ski racers. The Eggen twins were tall, dark, handsome and modest, an admixture of attributes that took them to the hearts of their countrymen and the Nordic skiing world.— M. Michael Brady