Thomas Wassberg was unhappy during the Olympics in Sarajevo.
Then a Norwegian rival entered the valla shed and threw his skis.
It was the Swede’s salvation.
Thomas Wassberg is one of Sweden’s most popular athletes by far. During his skiing career, there were many victories, and with his straightforward personality and big winner’s skull, he went right home in the hearts of the Swedish people.
The Norwegian dissatisfied
But he was pretty good at skiing too. There were three WC golds, eleven championship medals – but above all four Olympic golds. And some of the four incredible gold medals were more special than others. During the 1984 Olympics, he won two golds, in the relay and in the five-mile, and how it happened actually makes it all the more impressive.
A few days before the men’s relay, Wassberg sat in the stall. He was displeased. He had difficulty finding the right skis, the right ridge, and he didn’t feel in shape. It was simply slow going. But suddenly a Norwegian Olympic skater named Jan Lindvall came into the stall. He threw away his skis, saying there was no slip at all. Wassberg arrived quickly and inspected.
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Was a huge success
Thomas screwed in new newspapers and put on special silage and set out on the tracks. It turned out to be a stroke of luck. Wassberg wore his skis during the relay – which ended with gold. A few days later it was time for the five-mile, and Wassberg, once again on the skis of his Norwegian rival, won gold again.
Thomas Wassberg could only do one thing: Thank Norwegian Jan Lindvall.
– His skis suit me perfectly, he said, and continued:
– The glide has been good and they have been well adapted to my weight. That’s why I also rode the five-mile on them.
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