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Assar Rönnlund

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Assar Rönnlund
Rönnlund at the 1961 Swedish National Championships
Full nameBernt Assar Rönnlund
Born(1935-09-03)3 September 1935
Sävar, Västerbotten, Sweden
Died5 January 2011(2011-01-05) (aged 75)
Umeå, Västerbotten, Sweden
Height177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Ski clubIFK Umeå
Medal record
Cross-country skiing
Representing  Sweden
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1964 Innsbruck 4 × 10 km
Silver medal – second place 1964 Innsbruck 50 km
Silver medal – second place 1968 Grenoble 4 × 10 km
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1962 Zakopane 15 km
Gold medal – first place 1962 Zakopane 4 × 10 km
Silver medal – second place 1962 Zakopane 50 km

Bernt Assar Rönnlund (3 September 1935 – 5 January 2011)[1] was a Swedish cross-country skier. Rönnlund's biggest success was at the 1962 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Zakopane where he won two gold medals (15 km and 4 × 10 km) and a silver (50 km). As a result, he earned the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal that year for his championship successes. Rönnlund was the anchorman of the Swedish 4 × 10 km relay team at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, bringing the team from fourth place to victory. Rönnlund also won the Vasaloppet in 1967 and the 50 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival twice (1962 and 1968). For his cross-country skiing successes, Rönnlund was awarded the Holmenkollen Medal in 1968 (shared with King Olav V, Gjermund Eggen and Bjørn Wirkola).

After retiring from active competition he was hired in 1972 by The Swedish Radio Corporation as a cross-country skiing commentator. He gained nationwide popularity working in a duo with Åke Strömmer.[2] Rönnlund retired from broadcasting after the 2003 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.[1]

Rönnlund was married to fellow Swedish cross-country skier Toini Gustafsson, a 1967 Holmenkollen medalist; they had two children together, plus one from the previous marriage of Gustafsson.[3] They became the second husband-wife team to earn this honor. They are also the only husband-wife team to ever win the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal with Gustafsson earning the honor in 1968.

Rönnlund died on 5 January 2011 after a period of illness.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gill, Sophie (5 January 2011). "Assar Rönnlund har avlidit" (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  2. ^ Assar Rönnlund. Swedish Olympic Committee
  3. ^ Toini Rönnlund. Swedish Olympic Committee
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Preceded by Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
1962 		Succeeded by
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