Stenmark, Ingemar

Stenmark, Ingemar, 1956–, Swedish skier. The "Silent Swede" learned to ski at an early age and in 16 years of competition won 86 World Cup races, including two gold medals at the 1980 Olympics. He was overall World Cup champion three times (1976–78).

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Stenmark, Ingemar

(born March 18, 1956, Josesjö, Lapland, Swed.) Swedish Alpine skier. Stenmark trained with Sweden's junior national team from age 13 and won his first World Cup race in 1974. In 1976, 1977, and 1978 he was the overall victor in the World Cup (slalom, giant slalom, and downhill). In the 1980 Olympic Games he won gold medals in slalom and giant slalom. He turned professional later that year, and he retired in 1989. His lifetime total of 86 World Cup victories still stands as a record, and he is perhaps the greatest slalom and giant slalom skier of all time.