Nordic skiing at the 1968 Winter Olympics

In the X. 1968 Olympic Games in Grenoble ten competitions were held in Nordic skiing. In addition to Olympic medals and World Championship medals were awarded at the Nordic disciplines. The only exception was the Nordic combined, where only Olympic medals were awarded.

Venue for all cross-country race was Autrans, the temporary housing built Zielstadion was north of the village. The ski jumping was held at the hill Le Claret in Autrans and on the Dauphine -Hill in Saint- Nizier -du -Moucherotte.

2.1 5 km cross-country skiing
2.2 10 km cross-country skiing
2.3 3 x 5 km relay

15 km cross-country skiing

Date: February 10, 8:30 Clock Difference in altitude: 214 m Total ascent: 490 m Maximum rise: 74 m

At the start were 75 runners from 25 countries, three of them gave the race to go. The first of the favorites of the Norwegian Harald Grønningen took the course in attack. Air temperatures just above freezing had the trail softened a little, so that the lower start numbers had a slight advantage. The later launched Finn Eero Mäntyranta was 5 km still behind Grønningen, but pointed at the 10-km meantime, a lead of 9.6 seconds. Grønningen was on the last 5 km of the fastest, overtook Mäntyranta and in the end had a lead of 1.9 seconds. The Swede Gunnar Larson was 10 km still in 6th place, but managed to make up three ranks and won the bronze medal.

30 km cross-country skiing

Date: February 7 8:30 clock Difference in altitude: 275 m Total ascent: 990 m Maximum rise: 90 m

The 30- km run was the first decision of the Winter Games. It was attended by 66 runners from 22 countries, three runners gave the race. Previous set were two loops of 10 and 20 km in length. The favorites had consistently chosen rear start numbers. The Italian Franco Nones put the first 10 km Return fastest and had a lead of 28.4 seconds Eero Mäntyranta. Until the next split time at 20 km, the Finn came up to the Italians to 4.2 seconds. But at the last, mostly downhill section, again ran Nones the clear best time and realized the first Olympic victory of a cross-country skier from an Alpine country. The Norwegian Odd Martinsen took Mäntyranta onto the last part almost a minute and came up to second place.

50 km cross-country skiing

Date: February 17, 8:30 Clock Difference in altitude: 248 m Total ascent: 1480 m Maximum rise: 70 m

Previous set was twice a round of over 25 km. At the start were 51 runners from 18 countries, of which 47 reached the target. At 15 km the Norwegian Reidar Hjermsted was in the lead, followed by his compatriot Ole Ellefsæter and Sweden Assar Rönnlund. After half the distance Ellefsæter took the lead, while Hjermsted and Rönnlund fell back far. At 40 km Pål Tyldum came up to 40 seconds closer to Ellefsæter and was meanwhile in second place, just a little slower on the way was the Russian Vyacheslav Wedenin. Could Tyldum to overtake and won the silver medal. Josef Haas, who had still 15 km away on the 12th place, ran on the last section of clear fastest time, improved to 3rd place and took the first Olympic cross-country medal for Switzerland.

4 × 10 km relay

Date: February 14, 8:30 Clock Difference in altitude: 174 m Total ascent: 420 m Maximum rise: 65 m

At this race with a mass start took part in 15 seasons with four runners. Odd Martinsen (NOR ) laid the first section back the fastest, he was 39.7 seconds faster on the road when Jan Halvarsson (SWE ), Russia's Vladimir Voronkov lost 41.1 seconds. The second Norwegian runner, Pål Tyldum, his section was the fastest; after half of the race, the Norwegians already had a lead of 52.3 seconds. Harald Grønningen increased his lead on the third lap of the Norwegians to 71.5 seconds, cage rotor Ole Ellefsæter on 1:39,7 min. The Swedes secured similarly clear the silver medal. The Finnish -cage rotor Eero Mäntyranta overtook the Russians Vyacheslav Wedenin an even and at the finish line, both provided a thrilling duel that decided the Finn with a half -second lead for themselves.

Normal hill ski jumping

Date: February 11, 13:00 clock Hill: Le Claret, Autrans; K- point: 70 m

58 jumpers from 17 countries took part in this competition. The longest jump per pass is rated with 60 points and added a maximum of 60 points for the jump style. In each case the lowest and highest score of the five judges were void results. Maximum 240 points could be achieved. The best distance achieved Baldur Preiml with 80 m in the first round.

Ski Jumping Large Hill

Date: February 18, 13:00 clock Hill: Dauphine, Saint- Nizier -du -Moucherotte; K- point: 90 m

This competition took as when jumping from the normal hill 58 jumpers from 17 countries participated. Here was the same scoring system with a maximum of 240 points. Belousov achieved in two passes, the best length ( 101.5 m and 98.5 m).

Nordic Combined

Ski jumping: Date: February 10, 13:00 clock Hill: Le Claret, Autrans; K- point: 70 m

Cross-country skiing 15 km: Date: February 12, 9:00 Clock Difference in altitude: 275 m Total ascent: 470 m, maximum increase: 70 m

It was attended by 41 competitors from 13 countries. When jumping each had three attempts, of which the two best were incorporated in the standings. The points are determined by the five best widths of passage were added and divided by 5; according to their length given the competitors a score above or below this average. A backlog of 12 points meant that one minute exactly had to be cleared on the 15 -km cross-country skiing.

After jumping Franz Keller led the scoring, co-favorite Alois Kälin was on the 24th place and had a catch up three and a half minutes behind on the tracks. Kälin was by far the best time, but at the end of the race was Keller's projection of 1.5 points, or about six seconds.

Women

5 km cross-country skiing

Date: February 13, 9:00 Clock Difference in altitude: 100 m Total ascent: 170 m Maximum rise: 65 m

At the start were 34 runners from 11 countries.

10 km cross-country skiing

Date: February 9, 9:00 Clock Difference in altitude: 139 m Total ascent: 320 m Maximum rise: 70 m

At the start were 34 runners from 11 countries, two of them gave the race to go.

3 x 5 km relay

Date: February 16, 8:45 Clock Difference in altitude: 139 m Total ascent: 320 m Maximum rise: 70 m

It took eight seasons in part, with three runners. In the first section, the Norwegian Inger Aufles was the fastest and took a lead of almost 25 seconds out on the almost simultaneous Finns, Russians and Poles, around ten seconds behind followed in fifth place in Sweden. With the best individual performance of all runners Toini Gustafsson overhauled in the second section three runners and the Swedes were now in second place, followed by the Russians. In the last section did not change on the first three positions.

Medal Tally

Cross-country skiing at the Olympics - Ski Jumping in the Olympics - Nordic Combined Olympic Games

Lists: Olympic champion in cross-country skiing - Olympic champion in ski jumping - Olympic gold medalist in Nordic combined

Cross-country skiing at the Winter Olympics
Nordic combined at the Winter Olympics
Ski jumping at the Winter Olympics
Competition at the 1968 Olympic Winter Games
Nordic World Ski Championships
Men's ski jumping competition

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