Ragnhild Haga’s Path to Two-Time Olympic Championship

Becoming two-time gold medalist of 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Ragnhild Haga turned out to be one of the best debutants of the competitions. However, it’s not the only great achievement of the Norwegian cross-country skier. Want to know more about the athlete? Here are her most important career achievements.

Career Beginnings

Ragnhild Haga poster

Ragnhild Haga was born on February 12, 1991, in Holter, Norway. She competed in both ski orienting and cross-country skiing. At the age of 18, she decided to concentrate on the latter.

At 2011 Junior World Ski Championships, the athlete won two gold medals and 1 bronze medal. At 2013 U23 World Ski Championships, she claimed two gold medals as well as earned a silver one in 2014.

Ragnhild competed at 2009 European Youth Olympic Festival and gained 1 silver and 2 bronze medals there. Also, she is three-time silver and 2-time bronze medalist of the Scandinavian Cup. At 2017 World Championships, she finished 4^th in mass start.

World Cup

Ragnhild Haga poster

Ragnhild Haga made the World Cup debut in 2010. She was on her first podium in 2011/12 season, winning a bronze medal in team relay. In 2014/15 season, she rose to her first individual podium, winning bronze in individual.

However, the success came to the Norwegian skier in 2015, when she had 12 top 10 results and was placed 4^th in the 2015 Tour de Ski. In 2015/16, she got her another individual podium, being third in sprint. In 2016/17, she was a gold medalist in team relay.

To the date, 2017/18 season is the one with more podiums for Haga. She won pursuit in Ruka as well as gained 3 silver and 3 bronze medals. Moreover, she was third overall at Nordic Opening.

2018 Winter Olympics

Ragnhild Haga at 2018 Winter Olympics poster

In 2018, Ragnhild Haga debuted at Winter Olympic Games. She became an Olympic champion in 10 km freestyle, finishing the race in 25.00.5. She commented her victory in the following way: “I think I had a better start than usually. I felt very good and got good messages from the coaches, that I was only a few seconds behind. On the last lap I was very afraid that some of the others were going to speed up. So I increased my speed and got some more seconds. I just focused on staying on my feet on the last downhill, and to give it all to the finish line”.

She also added with a smile: “It was just a perfect day. My uncle was in the Olympics and I think he finished eighth once. I wanted to beat his result. So now maybe I’m best in the family too”.

Moreover, Haga became a gold medalist in team relay together with her teammates Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg, Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen and Marit Broergen. They finished the competition in 51:24.3. In addition, the cross-country skier competed in pursuit and 30 km, finishing 15^th and 12^th correspondingly.

Undoubtedly, lately, Ragnhild Haga showed the best results in her career. We hope that she will continue with the same enthusiasm and we will witness her other great achievements.