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Agence France-Presse

Famous for its mountains, fjords and rugged beards, Norway gave the world the Vikings and A-ha – and for good measure it even invented the cheese slicer.
But when it comes to sport, the Norwegians create headlines roughly once every four years, when the nation of 5.2 million makes one hell of a racket at the Winter Olympics.
Norway finished top of the Pyeongchang medals table on Sunday, winning a record 39 medals — 14 of them gold.
“It’s amazing to win this many medals and something to be proud of,” Norway’s chef de mission Tore Ovrebo said.

“But we must keep raising the bar and find new challenges for the future.”
A winter superpower, Norway failed to win a single gold or silver medal in Rio two years ago.
“Oh, in the summer it’s catastrophic,” sighed Ovrebo. “We want to improve our system in the summer sport.”




But Norway’s prowess at winter sports is freakishly impressive.
From Aksel Lund Svindal’s dashing victory in the downhill to the extravagantly bushy moustache of Robert Johansson, who anchored Norway to team ski jumping gold, the Scandinavians have sparkled, outperforming Germany, Canada and the mighty United States.
Winter Olympic Games results history
Their success owes much to a quaintly egalitarian approach based on camaraderie and bonhomie – from grassroots all the way to Olympic level.
“We are not superhuman,” insisted Ovrebo. “It is organic. This is about organisation, it’s about values, it’s about hard work.”

Norway’s tight-knit philosophy means top Norwegian skiers share hotel rooms — and even beds — to further strengthen team bonding.
Many Norwegian athletes have day jobs to support their Olympic dreams. The team has carpenters, plumbers and teachers among its ranks, said Ovrebo.
“We are part of the real world — we are not like a fairy-tale,” he insisted. “It’s hard work.”
Norway’s strength lies in its team spirit.

The athletes go to eat tacos together on Friday nights after training, and inflated egos are not tolerated.
“No jerks allowed!” said Ovrebo, referencing remarks made by alpine skier Kjetil Jansrud.
“There’s no good explanation for why you have to be a jerk to be a good athlete,” declared the downhill silver medallist, outlining the team ethos.
Pyeongchang Games Results
“We just won’t have that kind of thing on our team.”
Ovrebo nodded in agreement.
“That kind of culture develops true leadership,” he said. “We have prima donnas in Norway, too. But they’re winning medals — and they’re easier to deal with then.”

Despite hitting the right notes in Pyeongchang, Ovrebo revealed that it had been a long struggle for Norway to establish its “Olympiatoppen” system to develop elite athletes.
“We are strong now but it has not always been like this,” said Ovrebo. “It’s a vulnerable flower so we have to be very sensitive in the way we do things.”
Final Pyeongchang Games Medal Tally
Norwegians considered it a national shame when they finished behind Sweden at the 1988 Calgary Games, failing to win a single gold medal.
But the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics in Norway lit a fuse for many aspiring athletes.
“I’m old enough to remember Lillehammer,” said skier Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen. “It was very inspirational.

“If you see other countries, the talents go to football or basketball. Most Norwegians want to become role models in winter sport.”
Ovrebo underlined what it is that makes the Norwegians tick.
“It can be really tough to be a part of the Norwegian sports system because the ambition is so high,” he said.
“These guys who are winning at the Olympics are guys who have an extreme need to come first. They are obsessed about winning.”


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Winter Olympics: China’s cross-country progress to ignite new generation of snow sports fans, team chief Zhang Bei says

Winter Olympics: China’s top 10 hopes for Beijing include teen stars and serial gold-medal winners

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018

‘No jerks!’ – the secret to Norway’s Olympic success

Flags of Finland, Norway and Sweden fly during the closing ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Photo: Reuters

Gold medalist team Norway Sverre Lunde Pedersen, Havard Bokko and Simen Spieler Nilsen, from front to rear, compete during the men's team pursuit final speedskating race at the Gangneung Oval at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Medals Ceremony - Cross-Country Skiing - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men's Team Sprint Free - Medals Plaza - Pyeongchang, South Korea - February 22, 2018 - Gold medalists Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway on the podium. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Gold medalist team Norway with Sverre Lunde Pedersen, Havard Bokko, and Simen Spieler Nilsen, from front, competes during the men's team pursuit final speedskating race at the Gangneung Oval at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Cross-Country Skiing - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Women's 30km Mass Start Classic - Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre - Pyeongchang, South Korea - February 25, 2018 - Winner Marit Bjoergen of Norway waves the Norwegian flag as she is carried by her teammates. REUTERS/Carlos Barria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Cross-Country Skiing - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Women's 30km Mass Start Classic - Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre - Pyeongchang, South Korea - February 25, 2018 - Gold medallist Marit Bjoergen of Norway celebrates victory with her national flag. REUTERS/Carlos Barria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

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The tiny European country of just 5.2 million people dominates the Winter Games again, winning 39 medals, 14 of them gold in Pyeongchang


‘No jerks!’ – the secret to Norway’s Olympic success

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The tiny European country of just 5.2 million people dominates the Winter Games again, winning 39 medals, 14 of them gold in Pyeongchang

The tiny European country of just 5.2 million people dominates the Winter Games again, winning 39 medals, 14 of them gold in Pyeongchang