Sixten Jernberg

Sixten Jernberg
Jernberg in 1958
Country Sweden
Full nameEdy Sixten Jernberg
Born(1929-02-06)6 February 1929
Lima, Sweden
Died14 July 2012(2012-07-14) (aged 83)
Mora, Sweden
Height177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Ski clubLima IF
Medal record
Men's cross-country skiing
Representing  Sweden
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 50 km
Gold medal – first place 1960 Squaw Valley 30 km
Gold medal – first place 1964 Innsbruck 50 km
Gold medal – first place 1964 Innsbruck 4 × 10 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 15 km
Silver medal – second place 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 30 km
Silver medal – second place 1960 Squaw Valley 15 km
Bronze medal – third place 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 4 × 10 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1964 Innsbruck 15 km
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1958 Lahti 50 km
Gold medal – first place 1958 Lahti 4 × 10 km relay
Gold medal – first place 1962 Zakopane 50 km
Gold medal – first place 1962 Zakopane 4 × 10 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1954 Falun 4 × 10 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1958 Lahti 30 km

Edy Sixten Jernberg, known as "Sixten", (6 February 1929 – 14 July 2012) was a Swedish cross-country skier and one of the most successful cross-country skiers of all time.[1][2] Between 1952 and 1964 he took part in 363 ski races, finishing within the podium in 263 and winning 134 of them; during this period he won four world titles and nine Olympic medals. In 12 starts over three consecutive Winter Games he never finished worse than fifth place, and between 1955 and 1960, he won 86 out of 161 competitions.[3][4]

Jernberg was a blacksmith and a lumberjack before beginning his career as a cross-country skier.[3] He specialized in the longer distances, with four of his eight gold medals coming over 50 km, one over 30 km and three in the 4 × 10 km relay. He also won Vasaloppet twice, 1955 and 1960.[5] He won the 15 km at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 1954.

At one competition, Jernberg had a fever and coughed up blood, but still finished the 50 km event.[6] Gunde Svan said: "It was almost like [Sixten] didn't like his own body and tried to punish it in different ways."[7]

For his cross-country skiing successes, Jernberg was awarded the Holmenkollen medal in 1960 (shared with Helmut Recknagel, Sverre Stensheim and Tormod Knutsen). He was also awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1956 (shared with pentathlete Lars Hall).[4][5]

Jernberg retired after the Olympic Winter Games of 1964. In 1965, the International Olympic Committee awarded Jernberg the Mohammed Taher Trophy for his contributions to Nordic skiing.[3] He died of stroke at the age of 83.[8] His nephew Ingemar became an Olympic pole vaulter.[3]

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[9]

Olympic Games

  • 9 medals – (4 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze)
 Year   Age   15 km   30 km   50 km   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1956 27 Silver Silver Gold Bronze
1960 31 Silver Gold 5 4
1964 35 Bronze 5 Gold Gold

World Championships

  • 6 medals – (4 gold, 2 bronze)
 Year   Age   15 km   30 km   50 km   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1954 25 — 4 — Bronze
1958 29 4 Bronze Gold Gold
1962 33 — — Gold Gold

See also

References

  1. ^ Sixten Jernberg. Encyclopædia Britannica
  2. ^ "Champion skier Sixten Jernberg dies". Radio Sweden. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d "Sixten Jernberg". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b Sixten Jernberg. Swedish Olympic Committee
  5. ^ a b "Sixten Jernberg, Swedish XC Star, Dead At 83". SkiRacing. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  6. ^ ”Feber och hostade blod, jag körde fem mil ändå” | Sixten Jernberg om uppväxten, skidåkningen och sin starka vilja. Aftonbladet.se (22 November 2010). Retrieved on 2016-01-26.
  7. ^ Från Sixten till Kalla (From Sixten to Kalla), a documentary film about Swedish ski history during the last 100 years by Jens Lind, Sveriges Television, 2008.
  8. ^ Sixten Jernberg, Cross-Country Skiing Champion, Dies at 83. AP via New York Times (16 July 2012)
  9. ^ "JERNBERG Sixten". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
Records
Preceded by
Himself
 Athlete with the most medals at Winter Olympics
25 February 1988 – 17 February 1992
With: Raisa Smetanina 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Athlete with the most medals at Winter Olympics
5 February 1964 – 25 February 1988 		Succeeded by
Himself with Soviet Union Raisa Smetanina
Preceded by Athlete with the most medals at Winter Olympics
2 February 1964 – 5 February 1964
With: Clas Thunberg
Ivar Ballangrud 		Succeeded by
Himself
Awards
Preceded by Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
with Lars Hall
1956 		Succeeded by