Curious Facts about Oystein Braaten, a Norwegian Freestyle Skier
After his victory at 2018 Winter Olympics, Norwegian freestyle skier Oystein Braaten became an evident candidate for turning into one of the best slopestyle and big air skiers in the world. Despite his young age, he already shows very good results and is, undoubtedly, a very talented athlete.
Personal Information
Oystein Braaten poster
Oystein Braaten was born on July 21, 1995, in Ringerike, Norway. He is the younger brother of snowboarder Gjermund Braaten. Oystein started to ski at a very young age, using homemade rails and ramps in his backyard. He started to practice freestyle skiing because he liked the tricks, made by older children at the ski school he attended.
Braaten tries to train 4-6 hours each day and follows a strict regimen. When he has free time, the athlete trains at gym, skates or spends time with his friends. In 2017, he was a nominee for the Best Male Sports Action Athlete award at the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards.
The freestyle skier has a very interesting ritual. In one of his interviews, he shared that he always wears the same underwear during finals.
International Achievements
Oystein Braaten poster
One of the first achievements of the skier at the international level was a silver medal in slopestyle at 2012 Junior World Ski Championships.
In 2013, Oystein debuted at the World Cup in Copper Mountain, where he finished 42nd in slopestyle. He reached his first podium in 2015 Cardrona, where he became a silver medalist in slopestyle. He won his first gold medal at the World Cup in 2017 Stubai. In total, at the World Cup, the athlete earned 1 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze medals.
Success at X Games and Winter Olympics
Oystein Braaten poster
Braaten made an Olympic debut at 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and finished 10th. At 2018 PyeongChang Games, the athlete claimed gold in slopestyle, becoming the first Norwegian male athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in slopestyle and the second Norwegian to be a medalist in freestyle at Olympics after Audun Groenvold’s bronze in ski cross in 2010.
He commented the victory: “First run I did what I planned to do, what I wanted to do as well as I could, and it held up against all the great runs today. Just being a part of a final like this was amazing. The level was so high, so many of the guys I have looked up to and inspired me every day to go out and ride. When I first got to compete with these guys it was amazing".
In 2015, the freestyle skier competed at his first X Games and finished 13th. In 2016, he gained his first medal, bronze in slopestyle. 2017 X Games were the most successful for Braaten as he became 2-time gold medalist in slopestyle. In 2018, he won 2 silver medals in slopestyle and big air.
Despite his young age, Oystein Braaten has already established himself as a candidate for the legend of freestyle skiing. His achievements at the World Cup, X Games and Winter Olympics are just the start and further victories are ahead.
