The breakthrough took all of Sweden by storm.
But Ingemar Stenmark was not entirely comfortable with the spotlight.
Only 18 years old, he really roared – against Sven “Plex” Pettersson himself.
December 17 will always be a special day in Swedish sports history. It was then, in 1974, that Sweden had its very first alpine winner in the World Cup, and it was an 18-year-old Ingemar Stenmark who entered the history books forever.
Historic win
Stenmark won the first World Cup victory of his career on that December day in 1974, and the winning streak continued thereafter. Ingemar Stenmark’s success story lasted a full 15 years, and after winning both Olympic and World Cup gold, he also managed to break a very rare record in the World Cup before ending his career.
Stenmark’s 86 World Cup victories were a record for decades, and there is no doubt that he is one of the greatest giants of the alpine world. But the fact is that the really big breakthrough could – and should – have come already a week or so earlier than December 17. Even though he was only 18 years old, things had rocketed for Stenmark, and it was clear early on that he was ready to threaten the world’s best that winter.
Clean words against Plex
Two weeks before Stenmark’s historic, first World Cup victory, it looked for a long time as if Stenmark would clinch the historic first place. Many had even counted on the victory, but the Italian Piero Gros made a dream run, which unexpectedly pushed Stenmark down on the podium. And it was clear even then what a huge winner’s skull Stenmark had.
Ingemar Stenmark would later become Sweden’s biggest and perhaps most popular sports star, but he was perhaps not always so comfortable with the limelight. When, as an 18-year-old, he lost first place, in what had been his first World Cup victory, the legendary commentator and ski expert Sven Plex asked Pettersson why Stenmark had not won. And the answer Plex would never forget.
– If you ask such a stupid question, I will stop riding, replied Stenmark, revealed Plex in the documentary “From Sixten till Kalla” in SVT.
Sign up for our newsletter
Share