Holmenkollen Medal
The Holmenkollen medal is the highest award in the Norwegian skiing. It has been awarded since 1895, athletes who have at international competitions (especially those in Oslo at Holmenkollen ) achieved excellence.
In most cases this will be Nordic skiers honored ( cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, biathlon since 2011 ). Since only very rare alpine ski races at Holmenkollen will be held, only seven alpine skiers have received a medal. Were also honored the previous four members of the Norwegian royal family.
Most honorees are from Norway (111). Also receive a medal have athletes from Finland ( 15), Germany (11, 3 of them from the GDR), Sweden ( 9) Russia (8, 3 of them from the USSR ), Austria (5 ), Japan ( 2), Italy ( 2) Switzerland ( 2) Kazakhstan (1 ) Poland (1 ) and Estonia ( 1). Each athlete may receive the medal only once, so far, these were 135 men and 23 women.