Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 1936, IV Olympic Winter Games. Men's alpine skiing: Birger RUUD of Norway performs in the downhill event. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections/RüBELT LotharBorn: 23 August 1911
Birthplace: N/A (Norway)
Nationality: Norway
Sport: Skiing
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Lake Placid 1932
Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936
St. Moritz 1948
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 2
Silver: 1
Other results:
World Championships
Gold: 3 (31, 35, 37)
Silver: 1 (39)
Ski Jumping Hero
In 1932, Birger Ruud came from behind to edge Hans Beck for the gold medal in ski jumping. Both Ruud and Beck grew up in the Norwegian mining town of Kongsberg. At the 1936 Winter Olympics, Ruud attempted an unusual double, competing in both Alpine and ski jumping events. The inaugural Alpine contest was the combined ski jumping and slalom. Ruud led the downhill race by 4.4 seconds, but when he missed a gate in the slalom, he was assigned a six-second penalty and ended up in fourth place. A week later, Ruud won the gold medal in the ski jump. In 1948, Ruud gained a silver medal in the same event. One can only imagine what he might have accomplished if the 1940 and 1944 Olympics had not been cancelled. Despite his great athletic feats, Ruud is most revered for his courageous anti-Nazi stand during the German occupation of Norway.
